An historical account of the settlement and possession of Bombay, by the English East India company, and of the rise and progress of the war with the Mahratta nation

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£-7r^

A 1^

HISTORICAL ACCOUNT

OF t-HK

SETTtEMENT and POSSESSION

O 7

BOM B A V,

BT THI

ENGLISH EAST INDIA COMPANY,

AND or TKK

RISE AMD PROGRESS

or THS

WAR WITH THE MAHR ATT A NATION.

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■f~r"*i«"«»i

L O N D O N;

Printed by JV. Richarosok, Strand,
For J. R B S N, fiookfdler. New Bond-ftrcet.

M.D.CCtXXXI.

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ADVERTISEMENT.

^T^H E JoIIowIng narrative was not begtm
with a view to publication ; it bath been
continued to the beginning of the lajl year at
the defirje of fome refpeSiable perjons. Mr*
Orme's hi/iory^ and that of the decline of the
Mogul empire by Mr. Dow, together with
the relations of the mofi credible imvellers^
have furnijhed fome of the materials ; the
records of the India Company the remainder. -^--^
^ruth and impartiality have been the writer's
aim — the reader will judge whether he hatb
fucceeded.

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£ k R A t At .

Wgte 9> 1. is* for even rtad even

30, X, /0r Cattack r. Cattack*

43» 7i J^'' which r. this.

45 » 24, ybr Furrat r. Amrut.

55» >^» Z^'" ^^^^ ^' Pont. ,

64, 20y rffli/ Morabahy Bntth&bah^ and BobageeNitig^

76, ult. J^r Uguie r. Uguien.

104, 17, ^r/S'^r ruined place 4 Comma*

1229 2, y^r Mahi r. Mahe.

140, 17, /©r , /Air^ full Stop and fur that r. That.

342, ^9 for have r. had->-l. 11, far is r. was.

149, 22, r; their minifler. Lajt word r. therefore^

I58> nit* r. Mangalore*

228> 6, dele to.

^67, 9, r. of which.

277, 20, for Carnac r. Camac*

^94» ^9 r. he was. ^

308, 5, y^r Myhic r. Myhie.

3 10, 9, ^rr property place a CothiiiB*

3199 12, after Owde //izc^ a Comma#

33S» 'S* Z^'' had r. hath.

A

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A N

AC CO U NT

OF THE

SETTLEMENT AND POSSESSION

O F

B O M B A Y, grc.

TH E ifland of Bombay is the antient
property of the Englifh Eaft India
Company; it hath hitherto been, of
all "her fettlements, the moft conducive to
the greatnefs of the nation in Afia ; yet,
through the fplendor of atchievement, great
acquifition of territory, and immenfe harvefts
of wealth in Bengal and the Coaftof Coro-
niandel, it fiath been in fome meafu re' over-
looked, and, a& if in a corner of the world,
unnoticed.

It receives great importance as well from
^ts fituation, fb advantageous not only in
^gard to external trade and the internal id

the

i

.

•<

2 AN ACCOUNT

tfie neighbouring provinces, as from the
docks which are the only ones the Company
have in India, and without which therefore
there can be no maritime power in thole re-
gions. Hitherto the expence gf maintain-
ing hath not been defrayed by the produce ;
but the prefent fituation of affairs in the
neighbouring provinces, well improved, may
place things on a different foot, and that ex-
pence not only be cleared, but a confiderable
revenue yielded, and a great influence in the
weftern part of Indoftan obtained. Some ac-
count therefore of this fettlement, and of the
events which have offered this occafion of fo fa-
vourable a change, may be uleful at this time.

In the midway between Goa and Surat on
the Malabar Coaft, the land from Baflein to
Choul bends iiito a deep bay, in which lie
the iflands of Salcet, Bombay, Caranjah,
Hog Ifland, Elephanta, and Canary. Salcet
is the moft northern, feparated from the con-
tinent by fo fmall a channel that it is called
a river : on the Eaft the diftance is greater,
but the channel is fordable. It is about
twenty mUes long and as many broad. Its
waters are wholefome ; its foil fruitful, na-
turally abundant, and capable of great im-
provement ;

OF BOMBAY. 3

proveraent; the produce is moftly rice; it
was formerly the granary of Goa. Haifa
mile to the South of this lies the ifland of
Bombay, about eight miles long and twenty
ip circumference. Its diftance from the con-
tinent is about eight miles, and its fituatioii
forms the harbour. It is well peopled, not-
withftanding the water is bad. Caranjnh
produces rice to the value of 60,000 roupies
a year ; Elephanta, of about 8,000 ; the
others are little better than rocks.

In the year 1661, the Portugueze being
then mafters of that bay and thofe iflands,
they were given to Charles the Second as part
of his Queen's dowry. But the people fettled
there did not eafily yield poffeffion; for,
when a fleet of five (hips, with five hundred
land forces^ was fent by the Xing of Eng-
land, with the proper muniments from tha
court of Lilbon, entrance was refufed. This
expedition was commanded by Lord Mall-
borough, who, on thisrefufal, carried the fleet
to Swally, which lies to the North of Surat:
the jealoufy of the inhabitants obliged them
to retire ; the only place open to them was

* A roupie is worth, whcD remitted to England, from
2 s. to a s. 3 d. *

A 2 Ange-

4 A N A C C O U N T

AHgediva, an uninhabited ifland to t}i€f fouth-
ward of Goa. Lord Mallborough left them
there, and returned fingly to Bombay, where,
after much altercation, he prevailed to be
admitted,, firft to the town, and afterwards
to the pofl'effion of the whole ifland and the
bay. But during his abfcnce the unhealthi-
nefs of the climate, feconded by intempe-
rance, had made havock among the unfor-
tunate perfons who had been carried to An-
gediva ; thr;ee hundred of them had perifhed ;
the few who remained were admitted in the
year i664. Their firft care was to make
the ifland defendable. The Portuguezc cor-
rupted by eafe and luxury had funk in indo-
lence, and were regardlefs of every thing,
but what contributed to their pleafure.: gar-
dens adorned their pofleflions, but fortifica-
tions were totally negleded. Mr. Cook,
who commanded that diminiflied force, was
the firft governor; he was immediately un-
der the crown; but this government was not
of long continuance : for the King finding
no advantage to himfelf from that pofleflion,
but on the contrary being put to great ex-
pence in fending out (hips, wifh^d to be rid
of it. The officers and men fent in thofe
fhips drove a private trade, which impaired

that

^«

OF BOMBAY. 5

that of the Company ; and their licentiouf-
nefs often engaged them in hoftilities with
the riatives, for which the Company was an-
fwerable to the powers of that country. Thefe
real evils, and the advantage to be reaped
froni the pofleffioii of that iflaiid and bay,
made the Company defire it ; they therefore
requefted, and the King readily granted them :
from that time they have had the ablblute
dominion.

si

The ifland was at firft governed by de-
puties from the Englifh fadtory at Surat.
Diflention fbon arole between the civil and
military power, and grew to fuch a height,
that in the year 1671 all was confulion.
To put an end to this, and to fortify the
ifland againft attempts, which he forefaw
a probijbiiity of, from the Dutch, then at
'war -^vith England, Mr. Auiij^er^'prefident
of the fadory of Surat, being alfe dif-
gufted by the arrogance of the Mogul go-
vernor of that town, changed his refi-
• dence and eftabliflied himfelf at Bombay,,
^where his prudence quaftied the diflen*
tions, his good management advanced the
Company's intereft, and his activity fecared
the ifland: infomuch, that in the fpring of

A3 1672,

6 AN ACCOUNT

1672, the Dutch attempting a furprize»
found the fort fo well guarded, and every
thing in fo good a condition, that they im-
mediately gave over the enterprise.

Frona that period, each day Ihewing the
great importance of this fettlement, the refi-
dence of the governor was fixed there, and
the feveral faftories on the Coaft of Malabar,
and in the Periian Gulph, became dependent
on that prefidency,

Notwithftanding the natural inconveniences
pf this ifland in the want of iprings and
ft reams of freih water, and the poornefs of
its natural produce, from the time of the
pofieilion of the Englifh, its populoufnefs
became cqnliderable. Many were invited by
the freedom granted to all religions, and the
mildnefs of the government; (that of the
Englilh, even when puflied to what would
fcem tyranny at home, appearing gentle to
thofe who had felt Mahometan infolence and
Porto^ue^e bigotry) infomuch, ^ that from
/ten thoufand fouls, the utmoft of its inha-^
bitants when in poffeflion of thefe, they
were in the year 1764 augniented to iixty
thoufand,

* The

OF BOMBAY. 7

The accefs to the harbour and its fafety in
all feafons, with its vicinity to the country
inhabited by the Maharattas, and the conve-
niency of a pafs over the Gaut * Mountains,
through which the inland parts may be fup*
plied with our merchandize, are great ad-
vantages, the fale of woollen and other Eng-
lifli goods there, amounting annually .to
fourteen lacks of roupies +. The convenience
of the harbour hath produced a trade of In-
dian commodities with that country, almoft
exclufive ; as alfo a very conliderable one iu
the cotton, with which Bengal is fupplied,
whereby the cuftoms bring the Company an
annual profit of three lacks and a half J. The
proximity of Surat gives an influence in that
government, which, if rightly exerted, may
prove of immenfe benefit ; as Surat is, next
to Bombay, the great mart for pift ftaple
commodities. Through thefe advantages the
trade may fall almoft totally iut^ the hands
of the Engli(h. ' ;;.:^

What is yet of greater confequence, not
only to the Company but the nation, is the

♦ Gaut or Gatie means paffage.
t 140,000 I. at 2s. per roupie.
t 3S,ooo 1. at z s. the commoa exchange is 2 s. 3 d.

A 4 maritinikc

rv

*.

,*

? AH A Q CO U N T

myitime power which arifes from this pof^
^ felJion. Docks are conftru<9:ed there fuffi-
cient not only for repairing, but building of
fliips. To thde it is eafy to bring excellent
timber * from the continent, particularly from
BalTein; a number of artificers are fettled
there, fb that every repair and buUding may
1^ done as perfe<5Hy as in England. This
convenience is not to be foun4 in any other
part of that, or thq Coromandel Coaft, nor
even in Bengal ; and to this refburce may
in a great meafure be attributed the fuccefs
of England in that region during the laft
war. But the great expence attending this
fettlenient hath hitherto counterbalanced thefe
advantages; the profits, arifing from the terri^-
tory,^nd the great trade carried on, not being
equal.to the amount of that e}^pence. This hath
made fome further advantage in thefe parts
neceilary, and this n^ceflity hath been moft
ftrongiy felt finpe the ye^r 1768, when there
were great additions pade to the fortifications^
ai;d the military eftablifliment was augmented 5
a wile meafure ! fo neceflary that it is to be

* The Teke tree, called by Fryer "the Indian o^k, grows
in all thpfe p^rts. It is better from its durability ia water
|i>aQ our oak. Ships built of that wood, and ufed in the
fpQQtry trade^ laft iwepty or thirty yearSj^ ^nd longer.

wondered

O F B O M B A y. 9

wondered that no inconvenience arofe during
the. long time it remaiiied neglected*

By the great fums then expen3ed, and the
lading increafe of that eftablifliment, the de*
fe£t before- mentioned became grievous, and
moftly when it was neceflary to furnifti in-
veftments for Europe and China. The only
remedy was the acquifition of a territory fuf-
ficieut by its revenues to defray the expence
of the eftablifliment. The ifland of Salcet,
Baflein, and its territoiy, immediately pre*
fented th^mfelves as the proper objedls for
this purpofe, when evea an opportunity
ihould offer to acquire them from the Maha-*
ratta& who were then the pofleffors of them#
The lituation and nature of Salcet have been
already described ; its produce is fuch that it
almoft fuffices for the fupply of Bombay,
which, with the aid of Garanjah and Bafieia
may, however numerous its people, be iecure
of prov'iiion of every kind, Baflein is neceflary
to the provilion ' of timber wanted for the
Company's, docks, which, fliould it fail in
the hands of an enemy, or a quarrel arife
with its pofleflbrs, might become ulelefs for
want of materials. The importance of thofe
ybjedls, fo much greater tlian that of th^

fupply

f o AN ACCOUNT

fupply of expence, hath fo ftrongly ftruck
the Diredtors, that they have repeatedly and
urgently enjoined that prefidency to feize
every opportunity of acquiring thefe poffef-
fions, and to that principally to dired: their
views and operations : but afs the pofleflbrs
are equally fenfible of thofe advantages, and
confequently of the value of their pofleffion,
there was little prolpedt pf fuccefs, when, in
the year 1773, ^^^ diforders which difturbed
the government of the Maharatta ftate af-
forded the occalion fb much wifhed. That
thefe events may be underftood, it is necef-
fary to give fome account of the people among
whom they happened : a people who have
hitherto had no regular place in hiftory ;
mentioned only curforily as freebooters or
barbarians, although fettled in a regular go-
vernment, and the moft confiderable nation
in India ; whether we regard the extent of
their territory, their fituation, or their arms.

The rapidity of fuccefs which fo wonder-
fully extended the empire of the Mahome-
tans, attended thofe who invaded India. The
princes of that immenfe region were in
general overwhelmed : divided among them-
lelves they affifted their conquerors; yet

many

O F B O M B AY. n

many of them, whilft they yielded, pre-
ferved their dominions by paying a tribute,
and acknowledging the fovereignty of the
viftors ; and others refufing this, by arms
kept up their independence. They, whofe
pofleffions lay in the low, plain, and fertile
part of the country, being lefs able to refift,
were in the firft clafs ; but they who dwjelt
among the mountains, hardy and ufed to
arms, and prote<3:ed by the roughnefs of
their fituation, were not to be eafily fubdued.
They not only refifted, but often bafRed the
power of the mightieft emperors : even Au*
rengzebe found it neceffary to prefer art to
force ; and, by being fatisfied with fmall ac-
knowledgments, prevailed by cunning where
his arms muft have failed. The kingdom
of Vifiapour was thus at laft fubdued by
him ; and the king brought to his court, re-
mained there maintained by a penfion ,^s one
of his Omrahs ; but a part of that kingdom
inhabited by a hardy race, who before that
revolution had thrown off the fubjedion to
the king, remained unconquered ; and con-
tinued not only free from the yoke of the
Moguls, but at laft faw that empire tribu-
tary to them.

Thefe

12 AN ACCOUNT

Thefc tribes extended from the territory
of Surat to that of Goa along the fea coaft,
and backward over the nlountainis to the city
of Vlfiapour, and are at this day knoWn by
the name of Maharattas. The hiftory of the
Hindoos gives them great antiquity, even to
the . moft remote times *. They have pre-
ferved their original manners and religion ;
ifcrupulous obfervers of that of Bramah, they
never feed on any thing which hath had ani-
mal life ; temperate, fober, indefatigable ; al-
ways in arms ; inured to all hardfhips, capable
of refifting heat and climate. A iiumerous
cavalry mounted on horfes as hardy in their
nature as their riders, is the ftrength of their
army: their marches are incredibly long and
rapid: they avoid general engagements ; re-
treating with a celerity as fudden as that
v/ith which they invaded, they mark the
country they leave with the mifery of plun-
der and devaftation ; they return as foon as
the army raifed by the prince, whole territory
they invade, hath been dilbanded.- Thus all
the horrors of this predatory war are renewed^
to the total deftrudtion of the wretched ^ih-
habitants. Hence the difficulty of reaching

• Orme. Dow,

them.

OF B O M 3 AY- 13

them, and the detriment arlfing from thefe
inroads induce the princes of the invaded
countries to purchafe their retreat, either by
a large contribution, or ftipulating to pay an
annual tribute. Their arms have extended
this kind of conqueft even to the gates of
Dehli. Expences in luxury are unknown to
them; and continually collefting from the
countries they pafs over, immenfe treafures
are brought to remain in theirs; which,
whilft the provinces within their reach have
been ravaged and exhaufted, have continued
in undifturbed tranquillity. The policy of
the original conftitution of their government
forbad the extenfion of thdr territorial do-*
minions. This law, notvvithftanding the
fuccefs attending their arms, and the incite-
ments of ambition common to conquerors,
continued long inviolate, their views leading
them no further than the impofition of a tri-
bute they called Chout, one fourth of the
eftimated clear revenue of the countries they
fubdued : this, in a courfe of time, became
general through the greateft. part of Lidia.
Their refources of wealth were fimple, and
unembarraffed by territorial arrangements;
their armies numerous in proportion to their
immenfe revenues, and their country eafy of

defence*

U AN ACCOUNT

defence. But by degrees the ambitious and
mterefted views of powerful individuals
brought them to depart from this policy, and
to extend their territorial. pofleffions. From
that time their government no longer retained
a confident fyftem of meafures, but became
a disjointed union of different interefts and
dependencies, where each chief, accommodat-
ing the interefts of the ftate to what fuited
bis, adted folely for his own purpofe.

The revolution by which thefe tribes be-
came an independent nation *, was owing to
a bold Raypout of the kingdom of Vifiapour,
named Seva or Sava f , who had long dwelt
in the mountains, where he was at the head
of a bold let of adventurers. This man
was defcended from an ancient line of Rajas,
of the caft of the Bouncelos, a warlike and
aftive race. His grandfather, Vanga Gi,,was
high in office under Nizam Shaw the laft
prince of Guzurat ; and by him was Seva's
father, Shaw Gi Raja, made commander of
Jenneah Gur, where Seva was born, as was
alfb a fecond fon called Samba ; by another

* Fryer.

t He is commonly called Se?a Gu This additional fyl"
lable denotes fome rank or honour ; as chief.

wife

O F B O MB AY. 15

mfe he had a third foil named Ekou. When

Nizam Shaw was fubdued by Aurengzebe^

Shaw Gi, and his two younger fons, entered

into the fervice of the king of Vifiapour,

where they were raifed to great employ-

ments ; the father to the command of the

king's guard, Samba to a jaguier of ten,

thoufand horfe, and twenty thoufaiid foot,

with thirty lacks of roupies a year, and

Ekou to one of two thoufand horfe and eight

thoufand foot, with ten lacks of roupies a

year. Seva would not fubmit to ferv^'auy

prince, but, gathering a party, maintained

himfelf and them by inroads upon the plain

country ; fbmetimes againfl the fubjefts of

the Mogul, at others againfl thofe of Vifia-

pour. Nor could he ever be brought by the

inflances of hi& father and his brothers to

change this courfe of life, which diibbedlence

occafioned fo heavy a refentment from his

father, that he excluded him from his fuc-

ceflion. The king of Vifiapour, upon fbmc

fufpicions of machinations againft him, put

to death Shaw Gi Rajah : revenge of this

murder furnifhed Seva an excufe for pufhing

on his devaftations. The king fent a fltrong

army againfl him, under the command of

Abdul Cawn : Seva, finding it much fuperior

to

i6 AK ACCOUNT

«

to any he coukl raife, whilft it was yet at a
great diftance, pretended that he was defirous
of yielding obedience, and requefted his ad-
vancing with a finall party to a choultry
which flood between the two armies, that
he might .t|iere kifs his feet, and pray him to
fblicit his pardon from the king. Abdul too
eafily believed him, and advancing with his
fon, and an inconfiderable retinue, came to
the place appointed. Seva waited there for
him, accompanied by few ; but he had placed a
ftrong party in ambufli, who lay totally con-
cealed. He, feemingly unarmed, advancing
proftrated himfelf at Abdul's feet, and with
tears requefted his intercellion with the king.
As they entered the choultry Seva faid,
** You, my lord, may execute your plea-
** fure on me, and eafe me of my life."
Upon which Abdul, that his fears might va-
niih, aud to (hew him -an entire confidence,
gave his fword and poynard to his page.
They , then begun their conference, when
* Seva drew a ftilletto from his fleeve, and
ftabbed him to the heart. Abdul the foa
flew on Seva and wounded him; but the
men In ambufh ruflhed into the choultry at
that moment, a fcuffle enfued, in which,
! fortunately Abdul efcaped ; and by putting

on

F B C) MB At- iy

»

till i mean dfft6 ; and, flying through un-
frequented Ways, reached his camp i where^
the tragical end of their general was no fcidner
known, than all the troops difperfed^

Seva, that hfe might riot lofe^ihe fruit of
his crime, immediately marched to Panaia,*
a wealthy and ftrong city, hopirig to fur-:
prize it; but the cirizeds were 6n their
guards He^ therefore fearing that a fiegeJ
would be lerngi and give time for another
army to be fent againft him, which in thd
plain and open country he eould hot cope'
with, endeavoured a ftratagem. Seven hun-
dred of his followers were' employed for
this purpofe. To many of their officers he
publicly gave ill-ufagej they loudly com-*
plained ; and, jfeeming ftom refentment hi?*
bitter enemies, departed to the town^ and
odered their fervice againft him; 'They wero^
well received ; and though at Urft the in-
babitalnife ufed caution, yet hi a very Ihorfe
time their indolence and luxury drawing
them to confidence in thefe new friends, *hey
Jefit the guard of the walls .moftly to them r
as they had fought pleafure nwre than fecu-
rity, the rampart? and outworks vftre pleaf-^
in^ walks fhadowed with trees ; upd^r th^*
, 3 6ove#'

^4.

1$ A^N ACCOUNT

tover of thefe a detachment of Sgya's arfiiy
appfQ^ched undifcovered, arul were the fuc*
ceeding night adoxitted by their friends. The
inhabitants were Ibou overpowered, and at
Seva's mercy, who confidered them as his
fubje£ls, and nnade their city his retreat;
adding to the fortifications, and deftroyuig
the trees which had rendered the former ufe*
lefs : from this place he over-r^in the adj^**
^Sent country. The king foon fent a freflj force

. againft him, under the con^mand of AjbduJ.;
this confifted of the troops lately diiperfed^
and a body of cavalry under Ruftan Gemmk^
who had a jaguire of thirty lacks of roupies a
year, for which he maintained ten thoufand
hqrfe and thirty thoufand foot ; but Sera
found means to gain him. Abdyl advanced
gallantly, and with a fmall baild of chofe»
friends rufhed to that. part where Seva was^
calling him aloud to an encounter ; but Sev^
who depended upon more than valour, de-*
Ipifed the challenge, anfwering, ^* The rafti

- *' yputh may fall by other hands.** Jn the

mean time Ruftan's horfe difbanded, and he^

.... ^

with a fmall parfy, went over to Seva : Ab-
dul with his few brave friends broke through
and reached Vifiapour, his whole array dif-
periing, left Seva. mgfter of the field* • Ruftaa

adyifed

OF BOMBAY. 1^

advifed Seva to take advantage of the prefent
confternatioci, and march direftly to Vifia*
pour '^ he followed his counfel, and his bold-
nefs Would have fucceeded, had not Siddy Jore
another jaghedar advanced to the relief of
the city, with a body fo confiderable, his
own troops being increaied by the re-aflem-
blagc of the dilperled arniy, that Seva could
not Hand before it, but was obliged to re-
treat to Panala. Siddy encamped near the
towji; Seva, whofe ftratagems never failed
him, contrived to efcape, and proceeded to
Rajapour, the chief city and fortrefs of Siddy,
wl^re he produced a forged phirmaund *, fealed
with Siddy's feal, whereby it was fignified,
that having exchanged this fortref$ for Pa-
nala, the commander was ordered to deliver it
up to Seva. Siddy, not able to do any thing
^^nft Panala, returned to Vifiapour. The
king fulpefted him of treachery, yet received
him with a fair countenance, and made him
the ufual prefents upon his difmiffion; but,
foon after changing his mind, gave orders
to BuUul Cawn, whom he made com-
mander in chief, to overtake and deftroy him-
Siddy, when BuUul reached him, encountered
iud defeated him. The king then marched

^. A grant

B 2 ill

».ti».

r I

\.

\ 20 ANACCOUNT

in perfoii againft him, having by fecret
means gained fevcral of Siddy's army, who,
not miftrufting the treafbn, joined battle, in
which, being forfaken, he was flain. This
treatment of Slddy Jofe incited Siddy Maf-
fure, another potent jaghedar, to vengeance ;
and thus civil difcord completed the mifery
of this kingdom. In the mean time Seva»
improving the opportunity, fecured feveral
fmall places towards the fea coaft. In the
midft of this confufion the king died without
iflbe; upon his death his widow afcended
the throne ; and, by the weaknefs of her go-
vernment, furniflied Seva further occafion of
gratifying his revenjje, and indulging his
ambition. The queen had, during the life
of her hufband, conceived a parental forjd*
nefs for a youth named Sikendar, whom (he
had educated in the dodrine of All, the {e(k
of Mahometans which prevailed m Pcrwu
She now adopted him, and gave him the
title of king : this coudd not fail of being
odious to a people of all others the moft
fcrupuloufly attached to their religion. Seva
was highly efteemed for his valour, and
either from principle or political views, a
ftrift profeflbr of the Gentoo religion, had
acquired a great intereft among the Bramins.
Improving thefe advantages, he extended his

influence

OF BOMBAY. 21

Influence among the Raypouts. The fcruples
of many, and the difcontents of more, in-
creafed his company of adventurers to an
• army, at the head of which he unexpeftedly
appeared. The queen was totally unprepared.
Each advantage improving his force, he re-
duced into his poflefSon the fortreflcs of Ra-
japur, Rafejeir, and a great part of the Ma-
labar Coaft ; in Rafejeir he was faid to have
found great treafures. His* fuccefs was fuch,
that the queen, in the year 1674, before
her adopted, fon Sikendar could attain his
majority, was obliged to enter into a treaty
with him. By the peace which followed,
he obtained the independent don^inion of
the territory and forts which he had con-
^uered.

Unfortunately for the queen and Sikendar
this diminution was followed by a worfe.
Pammaich, another of the Raypoifts tribu-
tary to her, trufting to the inacceffible moun-
tains which furrounded his country, revolted,
and was fuccefsful ; his faftneffes for a long^'
time protefting him. ,

Her principal forces being employed in
thereduftion of this rebel, Aurengzebe feized

B 3 this

j2 AN ACCOUNT

this opportunity, and inarching to the aty
of Vifiapour, conquered that and the fortrefa
after a three years refiftance ;, the unhappy
Sikendar was taken prifoner. Aurengzebe
carried him to his court, where he refided as
one of his omrahs, enjoying a peniiou of a
million of roupies. This revolution . hap-
pened in the year i6B5#

From the time Seva found himfelf efta-
blifhed by this peace, he afliimed the dtle of
Raja Seva Oi, and a regal Aate, had a pom^
pous coronation, and applied himfelf clofely
to make his conqueft a valuable dominion:
he fortified the principal pafles in the moun-
tains, and placed therein faithful lieutenants
and good garrifbns. His conquefts extended
to the territory of Surat northward, and
foutbward to that of Goa : the coaft between
thefe two places became a part of his poflfef-
fion. This enabled him not only to barrafs
the country round him by continual incur-
lions, but alfo to ftop all commerce, both
of the Portugueze and the fubjedh of the
emperor, by his depredations, infomuch that
each of thefe powers were happy to receive
his terms. The pofleffion of fo confiderable
a tra6l of fea coaft infpired him with the idea

of

OF BOM B AY. 43

ef acqqirmga n^ridxne . power ; his late fuc*
cp&in hi$ depi^aatiohs gave probahiUty t<l
tlie fchexne; and his aftivlty in the purfuit
of it was fiich, that in a fhort time liis force
was fufficsent, not oaljr to refift, but eyen
to beat a fleet the Mogul emperor had equips
ped againft him. Thus both at iea and land
Was his dominion eftafaliihed.

In the year 1674, the prefidency of Bom-
bs^ feot an embafly to him to treat concerning
a trade to be carried on through his country ;
iu which negotiation they aiked the fame
privileges they enjoyed in Perfia and In-
dian, This was a favourable time for them,
as their gailairt behaviour, in repulfing an at-
tack he had made upon Surat, had imprelled
him wirfi an idea of their valour : he there-
fore willingly granted them leave to come, to
Raree, a ftrong hold in the Gatte ^, where
he then refided. They proceeded from Upper
Choul, a confiderable fea-port in his poflef- *
fipn, and, after many difficulties, came the
iburth day to Punchara, a town nt the foot
of the mountain on which Raree {lands r
there they pitched their tents, and waited for

ft

♦ Gatte figaifies a pafs.

B 4 bis

H AN A C CO Xi NT

his return from a pilgrimage he made to ^
famous pagoda called Purtabgur, preparatory
to his coronation, which they were fpeftatora
of^ and of his fourth marriage, Thefe were
to him fuch ferious matters, that, till all the
ceremonies of fafting and purification were
over (during which he and his family were
Ihut up with the bramins) the ambafTadorS
could not treat of bufinefs with him perlbr
nally, but were referred to Moro Pundit hii
Pafhwa, or chancellor, who was to report ta
him the demands they made : their prefents
were accepted, and their reception was couigr
teous. Sava Gi owed his fuccefs ia a great
meafure to the influence of the bramins ; aH
incident, trifling in itfelf, (hews his attention
to keep well with their tribe, during this
|ime of h^s recefs he was weighed in gold>
and i6,ooQ pagodas found to Be his weight,
were, with i oo jooo more, diftributed a^oug
the bramins on the day of his coronation f •

Except

* The great influence of the bramins over the people
g^ve in^^ite advantage to thpfe whofe caufe they efpo^fed.
They were revered by the higneft. In the hiftory of
FernAita, tranflated by Dow, page 4. vol. L aaoo97^
! It was ^hen cuftomary among the Rajas^ in affairs of
moment^ to afTe^ble the Double Coqocil^ ^vhich con-
ii/led of an equal fiamtier of the moft reTpeAable br^-

U

minji

OF BOMBAY. ay

Except making the Englifh coin current
|q his dominions, and refloring wrecks of
ihips periflied on his coafls, the whole that
was demanded was granted , with this com-
pliment, that with great fatisfaflion he em**
braced our friendfhip, promifing to himfelf
and his qpuntry much happinefs by our fettle-
rnent and tr^de*

Seva*s fuccefs gained him not only terri-
tory but dependents. Many of the Ray-
puts, who were tributaries to the Mogul
jnd king of Vifiapour, wearied by the ftate
of war in which they were obliged to live,
and feeing an advantage in being under his
protedion, as they would for a finaller tri-
bute paid to him, not only fave their land
frorx) deyafta^ion, but fhare the benefit of his
manner of mainfaining himfelf (the fpoils of
the nei^bouring countries) became his ja-
ghedars or feijdatories ; paying him an an-
nual fum, and flipulating to furnifha cer-
tjiin nun^ber of troops whenever cfcc^on xe^

^' miDs, who fat on the right of the throne, and of tha
'^ Dobks, Kettrees, who fat on the left;'* but they feem
only to be advifers ; for there the Raja, to his ruiOy agaioft
fhe noanimous opiaioo of fuch a council, continued a war
^iaft the emperor of Gbizni.

quired ;

z& A N A C CO U N T '

quired -: and 4&us was formed that federal
tfnion which conftitutes the Mahar^ta ftate.
Eacli of thefe jaghedars maintains a certain
number of troops, with which, when they arc
not -engaged in the comnaon caufe, they rtiak^
kicurfions in the neighbouriiig provinces ;
Sometimes fettling in tho^ parts w'hich Hd
moft conveniently for their purpofe j at others^
being fatisfied with the chout or tribute.
As the princes from wliom this tribute is ex-
acted arc impatient of this yoke, to which
they yield only through -neceflity, the Ma-^
hometan^, ipvho look on themfelveS as the
conquerors of India, feeling deeply the in-
dignity of Submitting to perlbns whom they
lo(^ on merely as freebooters,, whenever they
find an opportuity of evading thefe payments^
<»ther from any addition to their ftrength ,
or embarraffments among the Maharattas,
with-hold them, which the others, as fooa
as they find it feafible, fail not to demand
with an armed force; and thus their troops
are kept up, and their inclination to* plunder
gratified.

The -diflentions and war among the fuc-
ceflbrs of Aurengzebe left thofe of Sev? at li-
berty to ftrengthen and eftablifti themfelves :

the

OF BOMBAY. 27

the luxury of the prince, and iiiffidelity of
the chief omrahs, difiblved rfie government
of the Mogtl empire. In the interval of
time pafled from the 3rea:r 1707 *, in which
Aurengzebe died, to the year 1718, when
Mahommed Shaw afcended the throne, four
princes reigned, three of whom were exalted,
And then were deprived of life by the fadion
of the Seids, Abdalla Cawn, and Haflen
Cawn. Mahommed, foon after his acceffion,
rid himfclf of thefe tyrants, and then funk ^
in indolence and the pleafures of his haram ;
the omrahs were at liberty to form and execute
fchemes of independence in their govern-
ments* The moft confiderable among thefe,
for extent of province and number of troops,
were the Nizam ul Mulluck who commanded
ia the Decan, and Aliverdy Cawn who com-
manded in Bengal. This omrah by' his
armfs fubdued the Rajas who were his neigh-
bours, but tamely permitted the MaharattaS
to range through the interior parts of the
empire. Thefe invafions were fb fuccefsful
In the kingdom of Malava and the neigh-
bouring provinces, that Mahommed, to pur-
chafe their retreat, confented to pay them

* Cow's HiAory of the Dcclme of the Mogal Empire.

the

^8 AN A C C O U NT

the chout, or fourth part of the revenues of
thofe provinces. Thus did the lucceflbr of
Tamerlane, and great-grandfon of Aureng-
zebe, become their tributary.

The whole province of Guzurat, and
country as far as the Indus, was in this man«
ner fubjeded to them, and a part of it ia
the actual polleilion of fome of their chiefs
or jaghedars.

The invafion of the iPerfian Nadir, through
the treachery of the Nizam, having exhaufted
the provinces, occafioned the tribute to rui\
in arrear ; this furniflied the pretence, ,as the
weaknefs of the empire did the opportunity,
of another invafion. An army of eighty
thoufand horfe under the command of Rago
Gi, in 1740, invaded theCarnatic; having
forced the paflfes of the mountains, they fur-,
prized and defeated the army of Dpafl Aly.
the nabob of the province, who with his fon
fell in the a£tion. Sipander the fon, and
Chunda a Saib, the fon-in-law of Doafl Aii,
were at variance, and, inflead of unithig to
repel this invafion, fhut themfelves up, the
firfl in Vellour, the latter in Tritchinopoli.

Thus left maflers of the province they ravaged

♦ •

It,

O F B O M B A Y. tg

It) and rai&d heavy contributions. Sipander fet
on foot a negotiation, which ended in a Ai-*
pulation to pay them a hundred lacks of rou«
pies, and put them in poffeffion of the territory
of Tritchinopoly. Sipander was acknowledged
Nabob. They then retired ; but fix months
after returned to take polTefiion of the land
yielded to them. Chunda Saib fuftained a
three months fiege in Tritchinopoly, and
then Was obliged to furrender at difcretion.
Madhar Row, who commanded there in the
year 1741, fold it for a fum of money to
AbduUa Cawn, one of the Nizam generals*

In this year they demanded the chout
from the emperor, who, unable to pay it,
gave th^m a commiflion to gather it in the
provinces of Bengal, Bahar, and Orifla,
where Aliverdi had made hitafelf independ*
ent. The Suu Raja fent an army of 50,000
horfe from Sattarah, his capital, to invade
Bengal, under the conduft of Bofcar Pundit ;
they ravaged all the diftri£ts weft of the
Ganges. Aliverdi refifted them by arms and
intrigue : he found means to have their leader
afTailinated ; the army retreated : but the
Raja fent two other armies, one by the way
of Bahar, commanded by Balla Row» and

anothci:

5a AN A C G O U N i:^

auQtfaer by Cattack^ under the comnuoid ai
Rago Gi. AHverdi contrived to {ow d'tflen^
Taoa between theie chiefe, andti?ea|:ed feparate^
ty with Balla Row^ who having recehred two
years chout evacuated the province. B ago Gi
retreated ta Cattack, whence with flying
parties he harrai^d the provinces : in fome
time Aliverdi prevailed upon him to retixra
likewiie.

• In the year 1 750 they retreated from the
fouthem provinces of the empire, m pur**'
fuance of an alliance with Ahmed Jhe iba of
Mohammed, who was then defending him-
felf againft the Patans. By this treaty it
was ilipukted, that the chout fhould be re^
gularly paid* The confufion which leigOiecl
in Ddbli prevented this, and iurnifh^gd aa
occafion of continual incurfioms, which th^
wars, harrafliug the fbuthern provinces^ made
ever iiiccefsful. This profperous flate con-*'
tiaued till their diftradibns at home engaged
their whole attention*

Seva Gj, in modelling his rifing empirct
£)llowed the genius of the Gentoo fyftem;
among them, the Raja has the fupreme au-^
thorky, is mafter of peace and war, and ab<-

folutely

O F BO M B AY. 31

fbJiutely commands the ariQies ; but, by ulage
coeval with their law, ia bounds from the
mqA learned among the brtimmsi to fomi a
couacil, which adifls him in the adminiftra-*
tion of juftice, both in regard to punifli-.
meiits and the decifion of property : their
authority is fimilar to that which Caefar atr
tributes to the Druids in Britain. Thus)i)e
human law, being fupported by the divine^
muft have found peirfed obediesKe in a na-
tion fo bigotted to the tenets of their religion ;
the firft of which is, that the bramins are of
a race fuperior to other mortals, who may
think it a happinefs, when a caft created par-
ticularly for the exercife of the priefthood,^
ill reading, teaching, and performing the
ceremonies of religion, will coadefoend to
exercife fundion^ inferior to thefe, whilft
none of the other cafts dare look up to theirs.u
Even that of the Raypouts^ of which is the
Raja, whofe particular dillindion is the pro*
feflion of arms, to protect the fubjeds by
their valour, and who therefore naturally,
halve command, is inferior to that of the bra-
mins, who are by the people ^more reipeded
than the prince. *

Befides •

1

S2 AN ACCOUNT

Betides this fpirit of the Getitoo {yHtttiii
Scva was attached to the bramins by policy j;
to them he owed his firft fuccefs, add front
their influence he hoped yet greater advan-'
tages« Of his bounty and munificence^ zi
well as deference to them, inflances have)
been related on occaiion of his coronatioQ
and marriage; whilft therefore he retained
the cnfigns and reality of fupreme dignity^
the power of peace and war, the command
of armies, the difpofal of employments, go«f
vernments, and jaguiers, and the manage^
ment of the public treafure abfblutely to him^
felf, he inftituted a council of eight perfbns
chofen among the bramins to afiift him in:
the adminiftration of the civil governments
They exercifed the principal offices of the^
fiate under him, they held thefe offices only
during his pleafure, in procefs of time they
perpetuated them in that caft. Next in dig-
nity to the Raja was the Purtenary, or dele-
gate, whofe fiat was previoufly neceffary t<y
all afts of ftate : but the officer really mofl
powerful was the Paifliwa, or chancellor * ; hf
him was the executive power of adminiftra-''
tion really lodged j and as the name importSir

he

OP BOMB AY. 33

he prefided over the council, and was the
reigning, indeed fole, minifter of the Raja.
The fpirit and activity of Seva Gi was fuch,
that his minifters could affume little or no
power: but as by him the independence of
his tribe was fettled, and the jaghedars fixed
in their obedience and payment of their rent,
his fucceflbrs, like other Indian princes,
yielding to the foftnefs of the climate, and
the allurements of luxury, to enjoy their
pleafure left the adminiftration to their mi-
nifter. Similar caufes produce like efFefts
though in different climates ; what hap-
pened in the firft line of the French mon-
archy happened here; from the indolence
and ina(Sivity of the prince, the abilities and
real {ervice of the chief minifter, the necef-
lity to which the prince was reduced of be-
ing totally in his hands, ^^e influence of the
perfons whom the minifter had won over to
iecond him, who in each ftate were rulers of
the people's confciences, the power by de-
grees pafled from the hand of the prince to
that of the minifter. The Mayor of the
Palace, and the Paifliwa, to the admini-
ftration of government joined command of
armies ; fuccefs againft foreign enemies con-
firmed them in that command ; and the of-

C fice

34 AN A C C O U NT,

'fice fixed at fitft in their perfon for life only,
in time became hereditary in their family,
ivhilft the prince became a mere cypher ; and,
Satisfied with outward eiifigns 6f royalty, led
z life dependent on the will of him Who had
thus ufurped his authority. In this ftate the
Paifliwa was affifted by the reft of the coun-
cil, who faw by this change the goveriimeht
Exed in the bramin caft ; the 6ffifce becafne
hereditary, even when the PaifliWk left ail
infant fdh, during whofe minority the admi-
niftration was vefted in a f eg(ent attd the reft
of the council, aiid exercil^d in the rianftie of
the infant. The completion of this chajngc
was owing to the Raja Sahoo ; Ih the be-
ginning of 'whpfe reign a bralniln called
Wifh-wana Ballagee, through his gfeat abi-
lities, feconded by dexterity, hiad fo far gained
his prince's favour and confidence, that he
role to be of the Council of Eight, and fooa
to the office of Paifliwa. The Raja, finding
every day more eafe from his management,
determiiied formally to iliVefl hito with all
his authority and power, and even fome of
the enfigns of royalty. From that time all
orders fo^'merly given in the name of the
Raja iflued in that of the Paifliwa folely,
whom Sahoo ftiled Pundit Trader, chief or

eka

OF B O M e A V. 35

eled: of the Pmidite ^. The oi>ly rdkrye
jo£ this tbougjhtlei^ priace was tA^ r^evenyie
of a large diiVi<^r frpm whole produce ^
maititained ;a cpnfide;r9hle body of troops,
Jwho were his body guard, and fole,|y yiider
ius cooxmaod. Frpm that tia^ie, ihxxt up i(i
&ttarah, and ahandotied totally to his pJLqa-
•{fures, he appe^r^d no jcnore ,to his peopjle,
:who, throiigh the iuftvence of the br»a^n
cafl,- were accuAomed in a ihort time to this
alteration, which in reality had xxp bad of-
fefits to (hem. The bratpias readily aflifted
in a meafure which ^;ced the . government in
their -caft, and gave a chalice to each pf their
families of feeing the fupreme power fixed
in it.

r

Tdiis .irefervie wA guard makes it prpbable
t^ by ftfais cei^pn S^hoo did not i^ean to
■diveft himfelf totally ; his iqtention muft have
*been only the attainnjeijit of per;fc6J:ly ua*-
difturbfid. tranquillity in the enjoymeiu pf his
pleafui^s ; but his abieQ(:e frpm buiinefs and
the view of his people gave his fubftitute
.theopportunity of fuUy eftabli(hinjg^ his power
and influence, infomuch that the oflice be-
came not only permanent in huxifelf, but

i" Learned BramioSt

I

.»

36 AN ACCOUNT

hereditary in his family : it is now an efta-
blifhed rule, the fucceflbr goes to Sattarah^
where the Raja refides^^ and is invefted in his
office by the delivery of the firpaw ^. Such a
revolution muft feem ftrange, but it muft be
confidered that the bramins who compofed the
council had, as moft orders of men, the in-
tereft of their caft principally in view : by this
abdication they faw the government fixed in
it, and each might hope that his own family
would fome time or other reap the benefit
of it : and their influence over the people
' being fo great, they eafily brought them to
fubmit to any government they approved.

Wifli-ana made ufe of his power in cre-
ating dependents, and by degrees fo totally
obfcured the Rajafhip, that the prince be-
came a mere image or reprefentative of roy-
alty. As Sahoo muft have been very weak
as well as indolent and luxurious, it is not
furprizing that, like the French monarchs,
he was content with enjoying his pleafures
within his palace, and in time funk into a
prifoner ; probably his mind as well as his

* The firpaw is a rich garment with which the perfoo
who receives a great employment is invefted in the pre-
fence of the prince, or of the minifter who carries it, if the
favoured perfon is then abfent from court.

body

OF BOMBAY. 37

body enervated through fenfual enjoyments,
willingly acquiefced in this inglorious torpid
ftate. His feclufion from the world totally
cftablifhed the empire of the Paifliwa in the
mind of his people, his perfbn and his go-
vernment were forgotten. Upon the death of
Sahoo, he leaving no children, Raja Ram,
who was only an adopted fon, probably chofen
by WiQi-ana to ferve his purpofe, was per-
mitted to fucceed to this ftate of captive roy-
alty, and hath ever fince acquiefced, and
peacefully obeyed the dictates of the Paifliwa
or bramin council. The genius and circum-
fiances of the refpeftive fucceflbrs of Sahoo
and Wifh-ana have fo totally fixed the go-
vernment in the Paifliwa, that every tranfr
adion with foreign powers is merely between
that officer and them, without any regard to
the Raja.

Wifli-ana's enterprifing Ipirit did not long
fpffer him to refl content with the incurfions
ufually made by the Maharattas ; he fought
to regain what the valour of the Portugueze,
on their firft invafion of India, had wrefted
from the inhabitants of that part of the Ma-
labar Coaft which lies between Surat and
Goa : in a fhort time he became mafter of

C 3 the

I

j8 AN ACCOUNT

the princtpal part of the c6afllj and by his
dwn brother Oppalh conquered Baffein and
Sdcet. Thefe fucceffes encouraged him to
attempt becotaing a maritime power^ and
turned his thought* to the eftabliihraent of a
marine.

The neighbourhbdd of this enterprifing
people made it neceffary fot the prefidency
of Bombay to endeavour, bjr fome treaty or
agreement^ to prevent any dhputes which
might ahife between them^ ind for that pur-
pofe one t)f their body* was deputed to negjo-
tiate^ who found the ftate in the lituatiou
above defcribed, atid therefore treated with
the Paifliwa, by the intervention of Oppah,
with whom fundry articles were fettled*

Wifh-ana was peaceably fucceeded by his
fon Ballagee, more generally known by the
name of Nanah ; during his adminiftration
the government was carried on with vigour j
the military prowefs of the Maharattas efta-
bliihed a tribute, which, under the appeU
lation of Chout, was exa<9:ed frona all the
countries foyth of their dominion ; the quar-^
rcls among the different princes calling then^
at fome times to the aid of one ; at others,

the

'.V Jk

F B Q A<I B. A Y. 39

the non-pajment of tlie Chout gave them a
pretence of an irrvption to gather the ar-
rears ; and thus continually employed abroad,
and at home governing with* firmnefs anrf
juftlce, Nanah reigned without difturbance,
and at his death in 1 7 6 1 , the power and
poft was tranfmitted^ as of courfe, to his
Ion Madharow, though he was then but four-^
teen years old* Ragonath * Row, the bro-
ther of the deceafed Paifhwa, carried on the
government in the name of his pupil, and
by his prudence conduced it fo as to affirm
the povyer of the Paifliwa. The neighbour-
ing princes, particularly the fubah of the
Decan, tempted by the youth of Madharow,
invaded the territory of the Maharattas, but
by Ragonath's activity and valour he was loon
repulfed. His care extended to every part
of adminiftration ; valour and conduct re-
pelled foreign enemies; but internal evils
were more d^ifficult to be removed,

Wi(h-ana, on the firft eftablifhment of hia
power, as he was favoured by the reft of the
council, to give it ftability, found it necef»

^ Called alfo, and mote generally by the Englifb, Ra-
gob^h.

C 4 fary,

40. AN ACCOUNT

fery, not only to employ them in the civil
department, but to give them all the advan-
tage of emolument that could ariie from their
offices ; by this they were enabled to acquire
great riches, and increafe their intereft, and
that of the whole bramin caft : his fucceflbr
continued the fame manner; but probably
Ragobah fhewed fome inclination to check
this growth of power and wealth; for, during
the minority of Mhadarow, they formed an
intrigue, the effe^s of which have brought
the Maharatta nation to fuch a ftate, that
had any of the neighbouring powers been in
a condition to take advantage of it, the whole
muft have been loft. The bramins feared
not only the diminution of power, and of
the means of increafing their riches, but the
lofs of thofe riches, always an objeft of jea-
loufy to the princes of that country. They
law the fteady adminiftration of the regent
extended to cvtry part of the nation^ that liis
view was to affirm the pow^r of the Pailfhwa, *
and make him independent of theirs ; and
from the talents of the young prince doubted
not but, through his inftrudtions, he would
purfue the fame plan, which' muft end in
their ruin. It was neceflary to prevent this,
that Ragobah ihould be removed. To effed

O.F BOMBAY- 41

this would not have been eafy, had not a
favourable circumftance offered the oppor-
tunity.

Nana had left a widow, who poffefled the
art of intrigue : ihe was befides a confum-
mate coquette ; and, fince the death of her
hufband, had by her amours given great of-
fence to Ragobah, who could not, without
refentment, behold fo Ihameful a courfe of
life ; he reproached her for it ; this procured
him her inveterate hatred. The minifters
failed not to improve fuch an advantage, and
prompt her to ufe her influence over her {on
to the deftruftion of Ragobah. This was fuc-
cefsful : a coolnefs at firft, was followed by
an open breach, and total deprivation of
power, and ended in Ragobah*s confinement.

The fuccefs of this intrigue at firft threw
the whole power into the hands of the mi-
nifters ; their rapacity knew no bounds ; as
they were the difpenfers of favour, in a coun-
try where prefents make the firft claim, they
could not fail amafling imnienfe riches, and
greatly extending their intereft by the oppor-
tunity they had of making creatures, at the
pjcpencQ of the Paifhwa's treafury. It hap-
pened

4a A N A C C O U N T

pened, t;bat the n.QTfeh?ra jagbe^ars, feeiag
the weakuefs of government, with-held their
tribute, and were in this followed by thp
Pundits ; they purchafed, for a fmall part of
wh^t they ufqd to pay, the proteftion gf the
naiuifter? : fb the, treafury vifibly diminiibed^j

while tbfir ftore& iacfeafedt But this lafte4
UQt long,

Aa Madb^row advanced ta pianhoodi h,9'
ibewed aU tbei talent? which fprm a great
prince, and put in praft'ice the inftrwftion?
be had received from the regent, One of his
firft cares, ypo^i bi§ taking i^i hand the reins, '
was Xq deftroy tbi? iniquitoiis combination,
by narrowing the power of the miiVifters, and
rcdoring that firmoefs of government which
had exifted during the regency of bis uncje ;
who, notwitbftanding the Paiftiwa's penetra-
tion, wa? ftijl kepf iijL his difgrace and con-
finement. The ability and adivity of Mad-
harow made him be reipe£led at home and
dreaded abroad, and would certainly have
proved a$ advantageous to his nation as fatal
to his aelghbojjrs., had bis life been longer. A
lingering difcrder put an , end to hia defigns
in November 177?. He law bis end ap^
proach with iifim^eC?, yet with great anxiety

at

;/

OF BOMBAY. 45

at the fifuatton in which he left his family*
His brother aiid fticceflbr, Naron Row^ was
jroung and weak, confiding in thole who
flattered his pa£k)ns aixl vanity^ and totally
under the influence of his mother. The wifo
adminiftration of Ragobah recurred to him-
The Contraft between which^ and that likely
to be under thofe difadvantages, was ftriking.
Senfible that the good he had begun could be
continued by him only^ he wifhed to throw
the management of the ftate into l^is hand.
He knew the hatred of his mother, and the
defigns of the minifters, the conlequence of
whole ambition might lo[e the Pailhwalhip
to his lamily, if not extinguilh the office :
at the fame time much was to be feared from
the refentment of Ragobah ; feme marks of
•which had appeared in his impatience at his
confinement, projeils formed for his efcape,
and meafures taken to revive his interefts
among his friends ; yet he knew him to h6
of a high Ipirit, and naturally, not only bol<i
and enterprifing, but alfo generous; and as
he had no children, fuppoled he might look
on Naroii as his own fon, and moved by the
confidence repoled in him, adt as his friend
and parent ; he determined therefore to try
that method ; and calling to him his brother,
ihewed hini the dangers that furrounded him

from

4+ AN ACCOUNT

from the ambition and avarice of the mini-^
ftcrs, and the intriguing fpirit, with the im-
placable temper of his mother : he then had
Ragobah brought in, and after ijiany kind
expreffions conjured him, forgetting the ill
ufage he had received, to protect his nephew,
and aid him with his councils ; at the fame
time recommending to the young man to be
totally guided by him, and to guard againft
the influence of his mother, and the fnares
of the minifters: each promifing what he
requefted, he joined their hands in token of
mutual friendfhip and alliance. Soon after
this he expired. The firft afts of the young
Paifhwa, after the death of his brother, had
tlie appearance of a determination to perform
his promife. It was agreed that Ragobah
fhould be naib, or deputy, and carry on the
adminiftration of government in the name of
Naron. In purfuance of this, when the Raja
inverted him with the firpaw of Pailhwa,
he conferred the naibftip on Ragobah. Thus
things wore the face of harmony; but the
different interefts of the perfons compofing
the cabinet, and the reftlefs Ipirit of Gopi-
caboy *, who retained all her influence, foou
deftroyed it. The deceafed Paifliwa had

* The mether of Naron and widow of Nanal^.

placed

OF BOMBAY- 45

placed great confidence in the Duan, Sac-

caram Bapoo, and recommended him to that

of his fucceflbr. But a young man named

Nanah Furneze, who had attached himfelf to

Gopicaboy, and whofe age and difpolitions

nearly approached Naron's, infinuated him-

.-felf in his favour, and formed the defign of

making it ferve his ambition. His wealth,

family intereft, and connexions were confi-

• derable enough to create a ftrong party, which,

with the addition of Gopicaboy,* became an

overmatch for Saccaram : but Ragobah was

. an unfurmountable check to their defigns,

and therefore it was abfolutely determined to

remove him from the perfon of Naron, and

deprive him of his office. The fame means

which had efFedted this with Madharow were

repeated ; and a particular incident gaye theiji

a handle for their infinuations*

Whether the weaknefs and debauchery of
Naron had difgufted Ragobah, or whether he
was fwayed by other motives, he, fbme time
after the death of his nephew, had adopted
a youth named Furrat Row, who was nearly
related to Moodagee Bouncelo, one of the
moft powerful and confiderable of the Ma-
haratta ^hiefs. This adoption, and the con-
nexion

4.« AN ACCOUNT

hexion coitfequcnt to rt, were by GopJcaboy
ufcd as ^ftrong ailments that RagobcJi de-
iigned to eftaMifh hknfelf in the office of
PaifliTra, to lite prejudice of Naron. She
reprefented that ha had a6:ed contrary to the
cuftom of the country, -which approved not
-adoptions where there were nephews ; that
by this the fueceflion to his weaith w;as takai
from his family ? and perhaps the high of-
<fice of Paifhwa might be (b : that the con-
nexion with £o powei'ful a -chief as Bounceio
could have no other view but eftablilhiog
-fudi'an tnterdl as. might overbalance the
Paifhvra^s pow£r. By thefe infinuations, and
the 'flattery of Nanah and his young com-
panions, the ^ing requeft of the late Paifli-
Tva, ancd promife in confequence, were obli-
terated, ^nd Ragobah was once more a pri-
foner; and, on the nth of April lyjSf
clofely confined, and deprived of the accefs
of his friends.

Naron, thus freed from the controul of
his unck, gave a full range to his folly ; his
debauchery, pride, and arrogance '^knew no
bounds^ The confidence was given 'totally
to Nanah and his adherents, and S^ccaram
the Duan not only was -tiegleaed, but in*

. fulted,

OF B d 1^ * A Y. 47

fckei^ and even d^figns eifteitaifled ctf" At-
priVinjg hfiin of the ^dvtitiftnp. This^-6o
j)icaboy w^s labbtinng ^o 'efft<9:, ind het
principles Were fd knotv^n, that it tv^s not
doubted tut his life, if it feertted iifceeifeiy,
would be qnickly facrifided to hfer tlrifft'of
pofwer a[nd reJv^nge, The -ajypireheiifidnsTriing
ftom this kiibwledge wfere foon 'ericreafed to
certainty. By the meins 6f •B6uftcelo, Sac-
caram received notice thit-a pldt Was fdrmed
to aflaffinate him and Ragdbah; this, in a
mind already iiiflamed, furik deep, and ^as
fbUowed bya refolutioh to ftcifre his 'dtvn
fafety by any' means. The ttibft dbviows ivas
the death 6f Nardil ; this was irift^tly re**
fohed : but it was tlac'effary to go ^further :
feizibg the power irfto'his handstand that of
his friends was the mbfl defirable, but whiift
the office of Pai(hwa 'exiiflfed, or Ragobah
li\Td, this AVas not "cafy. The extinguffli^
meat of the 'office mi^ht reftore the 'Raja,
iand deprive them and their Caft, The death
bf Ragobah 'wbuld bpfen* the 'eyes of all, and
tepreferit their aift, not^s a m^fute bf iafety
and public utility, but irioirdinate atribition*
On the other band, Ragbbdh,' if 'rdeafed,
might look bnthem^ as his friends, and pre-
feiire^to-theni- their Wealth ^aiid power : this

determined

48 AN ACCOUNT

determined them to releafe and reinftate Rago-
bah. This fcheme was laid, and carried
into execution by the art of Saccaram, who
prevailed on Mahomet Efoof and Summer
Sing to procure two Subadars to undertake
the death of Naron : on the 1 8 th of Auguft
1773, thcyhd their party, which confifted
of five hundred men, to the Durbar, under
pretence of being muftered ; the gates were
forced, and the guards put to the fword.
Naron, rouzed by the tumult, faw the fuU-
nefs of his danger, and at the fame time the
impoffibility of efcaping. The prifon, where
Ragobah was confined, feemed the only re-
fuge, thither he fled, and throwing himfelf
at his uncle's feet, begged his proteftion ; and
aflilring him nothing more than imprifon-
ment had ever been defigned againft him,
befought him to afllime the government,
and only fave his life. Before any thing
could be anfwered, the party broke in, and
found him in that pofture. Ragobah had
time only to take him in his arms, which
aft would have faved him ; but a flave, whom
Naron had lately caufed to be feverely whip--
ped, and who had led the party to this apart-
tment, urged them on ; their weapons were
inftantly direfted to the perfon of Ragobah,

who,

i

OF BOMBAY

49

^ho, to lave himfelf, was obliged to aban-
don the wretched youth to their Iwords*

Thus did a mbthent determine the fate
lof thefe two princ6s. The one, who lari-
guifhed in prilon when he expected death j
Was railed to liberty and conrimahd : aiid the
i)ther, in the hieight of feciirity^ fell z vi&.ini
to his arrogance;

Ragobah was inftantly brought out of his
confinement by S^ccaram, and by him and
the other rfciinifters faluted Paifliwa. His ad-
opted Ion Was ferit to Sattarah to obtain the
Ihveftiture of the office, with which he im-
mediately returned, and Ragobah entered, iti
ail appearance, peaceably upon the execution
<5fit.

The coiifpiracy againlt Narbri had beeri
kept feeret td the moment of its execution i
and as no life wds fought biit his, Nanah Fur-
neze, and his ddherents, had time to fave
thetnfelves by flight. Ragobah recalled them;
ind, having given them afiui'ances, they re-^
filmed the exercife of their offices ; Ragobah^
Was acknowledged by them^ aod all the in-

D ftri6t

-4

56 A N A C C p U N T

ferior ofjices thrpughput the Maharatta flat?,
and every' thing feemed peace.

Mr. Moftyn, the refident of the Englifh
Company at Pqonah, made hirn t|;ie uTuaI
prefents, accompanied with a proffer of oyx
friendftiip, ^yhicIl was accepted, and mutual
Engagements were entered into to mainta^a
the alliance made with his anceftor Badjerow*

But, tliough every thing at Poonah word
the appearance of peace and acquiefcence un-
^ der this eftablifhment, diffatisfa£tion. and fear
lurked in the Durbar, and in a fhort time
broke out to the difturbance of thp ftate, and
ruin of the Paifhwa.

The mifchiefs which had fprung forth
during the firft imprifonment of Ragobah,
M^re but kept under in the fhort adminiftra-
tion of Madharow, and revived with more
force than ever in that of Naron. Hence Ra-^
g6bah, at his acceffion, found an exhaufled
treafury, a ceflation of the payment of tri- .
bute by the neighbouring princes, and the
principal offices held by perfons attached to
one or other of the parties which divided the
Durbar. Both united in their fentiments as

to

1

F S d M BAY. s^

to hlnii Ev^n Saccarahi and his party were
determined, if poflible, to keep him irl fuch
a ftatej that he (hould be dependent on
them, or at kaft not of ftrength fufficient to
enable hitn to call them to an account for
peculation and iniquitous wafte of the pub-
lic treafure. For their freeing him from im-
priforiment, and inftalling him in the Paifh^
1;7afliip, was not owing to any affbdlion for
him or his family, but folely to the Itedeflity
cf fliewing fortietliing of a regard to the pub-
lic, t^rhich toight cloak their interefted views.
Ragobah knew this well: he had already
felt the efiefts of their tslbals ; but Ss he was
tioXv not under the po^irer of any fuperior,
lie did not fear influence ; he therefore took
tlte fliorteft method of mending his afFair^^
and fecruiting his treafury, by requirhig the
payment of arrears of tribute from the princes
oif Indoftanj at the fame time managing thie
revenues of the ftate by his ovvil officers',
without a duan or f reafurer : to bring the
ft)rmer liieafure to pafs^ he applied . to-Mo-
dagee Bouncelo, that fome of the force uhiiet
him' ftiotiid join the fmall body he had on
foot, and at the head of thefe he marched
againft the Nizam of the Decan, to bring
him to pd^r the arrear due by him, and eti-

D 2 camped

52 AN ACCOUNT

camped in his territory. Though he knew
the difpoiition of both parties againft him,
and from the nature of man muft have con-
cluded that Saccaram's dilappointment, in
not being Duan, muft have made him a bitter
enemy,* he left Poonah, without proper pre-
cautions, accompanied by fome of thofe very
perfbns who dreaded his power, and feared,
wiien thoroughly eftablilhed,, it would be
turned againft them. The confequence had
nearly proved fatal to him : part of thefe re-
tired from his camp, when in light of the
Nizam*s army, and the other concerted mea-
fures to deliver him up to his enemy. They
fucceedcd fo well that in November 1773,
when the Nizam's forces encountered him,
having been, in the beginning of the adlion,
furprized in his tent, to which the Nizam's
troops had been fuffered to pafs, he narrowly
efcaped after receiving fbme wounds ; a total
defeat of his army followed. But as the na-
ture of thofe troops prompts them foon to
fly. To it faves many, who immediately again
appear in arms ; Ragobah was therefore fooji
again at th^ head of an army, which, by
Modagee joining him, amounted to 60,000
horfe; on the other hand, Shabajee, brother
to Modagee, who dilputed with him the

Rajafliip

1

O F B O M B A Y. 53

Rajafliip of Berar, joined the Nizam with a
force of 40,000. Ragobah having taken the
fort of Muldroog advanced to Badar. The
armies lay feveral days in fight of each other;,
frequent ikirmifhes enfued : both parties fuf-
fered great inconvenience : Ragobah, from
want of money, and the diftruft of thofe who
remained at Poonah ; the Nizam from the great
expence and the uneafinefs on feeing two Ma-
haratta armies in his territories : they were
therefore eafily brought to treat on the 9th of
December 1 773, and a peace was concluded,
Ruckna al Dowla, the Nizam^ vizir, promif-
ing on his behalf to pay twenty-five lacks of
roupies *, and to cede fome fortreffes agreed
on. This treaty was followed by an interview
between thofe princes, in which the Nizam
having convinced Ragobah of his inability to
pay the fum ftipulated ; he, who wanted to
fecure the afliftance of fo powerful an ally,
and expefted much larger treafqres from the
Carnatic, and the country of Hyder Ally,
changed the terms of their treaty, and re-
linquiftied the demand of the money, ^ on
the Nizam's undertaking to furnifli a certain
number of troops whenever he fhould demand
them.

* About 250,0001. at as. the roupie^

D 3 Having

54 A N A C C Q U N T

Having finifhed thefe affajijrs, he direfte^^
his march towards the country of Hy4ei:^
demanding the arrears of Chout^ at tthe fajmie
time writing to Mahomet Aly pawn nal>pl>,
of the Carnatix:, requiring his gfliftance..
Having advanced as for as Cut]berge, thif^y
cofs * weft of Bedah, he was there met by-
Hyder's vaqueel, who iqamediately entered
into treaty: Hyder paid down tw,^nty-6ye
lacks of roupies, and in return obtained the
pofleffion of the diftriftg of Mudgwannyj^
llanfcotah, and GhuncJa Grpog.

Ragobah thpn turned his thoughts to. the
inyafion of the Carnatic, to demand arrears
of Chout froni Mahornet Aly j his army by
his fujccefs had irjcreafed, and the hopes of
the plunder, which is ever the fruit of thofe;
expedition^, had drawn to him a great ntunr.
ber of horfemen. This boded deftrudlipfi tq
that whole country, not only frpna the ra-
ynges of his troops, but an invafion. by Hyr
jder, who would not have failed to take ad-r
vantage of thofe pircumftances. Fprtu|iately
for Mahomet Aly the- attention of Ragobah.
I«rs5 called off by the efFedts of the cabals at-
Pooniah, to whiph his abfence had furni{he4;
an pccafion. The p^rty vyhich had fp fud*

* A cofs is nearly twp miles*

My

OF BOMB AY, 55

denly changed the fortune of Ragobah, foou
found that their hopes of his fuffering theni
to acquire an inereale of riches and power
were vain. They remembered the fteadi-
nefs of his adminiftration when regent, his
determination to reftore the power of his of-
fice, and prevent the mifchiefs which had
given them fuch influence and wealth ; they
tiow faw the firft fteps of the fame plan, and
with the more likelihood of fuccefs to hin^
and ruin to them ; as he was not governing
for another, but in his own right, all parties
were ed ually interefted to prevent the growth
of this lyft^m. The principal among them,
Saccaram Bappoo, Nanah Furneze, Hiirry
Pcut FurkiJi* Anunt Seva Gi, and another,
united in a league, which they called The
Fivd Friends: as the hai^ard was great, "let
the ftroke was bold ; they determined to de-
prive hind once more of the Pai(hwafhip and
liberty, and feiz;e the government, This
fcheme w^as thus brought abovjt: Naron had
Irft a widow called Gungaboy ; it was given
out that ihe was with child, and the 30th
of January 1774, ihe was fei2;ed by them,
together with another lady, wife of Suda-
boy, a chief of the Paiihwa race, who pre-?
tended to the regency, and wfconi they kept

i

1

1

56 A N A C C O U N ^T

in confinement, and carried ^o the fort of-
Porounder, where five bramin wpmen then
with child accompanied her ; thus they obr
tained a great prpbability that a male child
Should be born in that fortrefs : till his pror
duftion the government was to be carried oir
in the name of Gungaboy, they affuming no
higher title than that of minifters. Every
. perfon i^ the intereft of Ragobah was put
■under a guard ; and the Friends inunediately
levied troops tp fupport this ufurpation.

But notwithftanding all their precautioiis
Ragobah was informed of their proceedixigs,
before their advices could reajch the confe-
clerates they had in his army, and through
whom they expeded to feize his perfon : he
iaw his dat)ger in the ftrongeft light ; many
of thofe who furrounded him he knew to be
of the bramin faction, and united with the
minifters, axid he judged that the tale of the
pregnancy of JSIaron's widow would feduce
many more. His firft care wajs to fecure his
perfon ; he difbanded his army, and retired
to Gutty, a fort poflefled by Mora-row Go-
parah, ^ Maharatta chief, who had great
power and .influence in that country, and
Commanded a confiderable body of troops.
"^ ' Fortunately

(.1

O F ,B O M B AY. 57

Fortunately he declared himfelf his friend,
jand not only afforded him a retreat where his
perfon was fecure, but promifed him aflift-
ance to reduce this rebellion. An impolitic
ilep of the Five proved at the fame time fa-
vorable to him. They too foon (hewed the
reality of their views by calling on all the
chiefs to difcharge the arrears they owed ;
liiis provoked many, and drove them to Ra*
gobah, who by thefe means faw himfelf once
XBore at the head of an army ; that raifed
by the Five, commanded by Trimbuck Row,,
a chief of great reputation, was now marching
againfl him ; by the acceffion of Shabagee's
force it had increafed to 60,000 men ;.Sin*
4ia, Holcar, and the Nizam joined in tho
league with the miniflers : ruin now feemed
inevitable : neverthelefs, as he had row an
army in which he confided, through his opi-
nion of Mpra-row who fupported him, he
fnarched from Dalari on the ibuth fide of the
Khriflna, and crofling that river advanced
towards his enemies, A body of troops
from the Nizam had joined them, fo'that in
. all refpe£ls they were fuperior to him. This
infpired them with a confidence of which he
fook the advantage: on the 24th of March
he halted at Merits, a place within four cofs

of

58 AN ACCOUNT

df them ; in the entrance of the night he placed
a ftrong party in ambufh, and then decamped
with all the remtinder of his army, leaviftg
his tents ftanding, and all his heavy artillery ;
this apparent flight foon reached the cars of
Trimbuck, who led the van of the enemy ;
he, flulhed with the hopes of $ victory {o
eadly gained, haftily marched in purfuit, with-^
out waiting for the Nizam and Shabegec who
were in the rear ; be met no oppofition till
he had paffed the &mbufh '; but then, to his
great fiirprize, faw Ragobah marching fwiftly
to attack him in front ; at the fame time the
corps in ambufcade iell upon^ his rear. Trimv
buck endeavoured by valour to repair thfe
mifchief brought on hitti by his rafiinefs ;
but it was in vain : his army was totally de-
feated,) he himfelf wounded, and tajceri pri^
foner. Ragobah now advanced toward Pooh
nah* Holcar and Sindia, who had not fent
their quota of troops, though required by
the minifters, feemed to flaud neuter,

The confternation at Poonah was now
great ; ftrongly imprefled with the terror of^
the return of Ragobah jit the head of a vic-
torious army, it was once propofed, as the
only means of fafety, Xo rele^fe the Rajah,

and

O F B O M B A ¥• 5^

j»iid reftore the antient form of government^
by which proceeding thej reckoaed to feciirc
the ^her eace of moft of the Maharatta chiefs^
3-^ this was a meafure too replete of danger
tp thejoojetves ; they muft have been called
IP ^cco\}m for all the uiurpatlons of thelc
^A, wh^Urh from that hour would be de^
pceflfed ; lofs of wealth ^ perhaps of life, might
probably follow. A few moments reflexipq
jinducedi them to adopt a lefs dangerous plan,
which the birth of a chijd in Porounder, q£^
fered them an opportunity pf executing. Oti
the 2§th of April ?774 a male child pro-
duced, as bora of jGungaboy, was called by
the name of Madoo Row ^.^rrgin, and ac«
iUDLpwledged as Paifhwa.*

Although this contrivance was moft grofs,i
-and attended with every circumftance o£
fraud, the firft report of pregnancy arifiug lb
iconfiderable a tinie after the death of Naron^
the feizyre of the widow, the ftridt care that
none but their own confidential dependents
^ould have accefs to her, a fence being
preyed rpund the fort for that purpofe, but
above all the caufing her to be accompanied
\^y five women with child, infomuch that it
was, at the time of Jier confinement, pub^

Jicly

I

6o A N A C C O U N T

licly called an artifice, and treated as fucli
by the Nizam in his propofals for a pacifi-
cation ; yet, fuch as it was, from its nature
it kept many in fuipenfe, and enabled the
contrivers not only to Icreen themfelves, but
maintain their power. The doubt that a
Ion of Naron's might exift, detached the
friends of the family from the intereft of
Ragobah, and the hopes of becoming confi-
derable in the adminiflration of perlbns who
muft embrace every refource that oflfered, and
highly reward thofe whofe fervices they
needed, induced many, othefwife indifferent,-
to efpoufe this caufe. Ragobah was now-
within four cofs of Poonah, when, on the
13th of April 1 7 74 J letters from the Five
Friends to Holcar and Sindia were inter-
cepted by him. The matter and ftyle of
them was fuch as led him to conclude that
a correfpondence was eftablifhed between
them, and that fome bargain tending to his
ieftruftion was either fchemed or aftually
begun. The infidelity naturally to be *fu-
fpefted from Indian chiefs fb feized his im^^
gi nation, that he gave himfelf no time to
examine whether thefe Ifetters might not be
an artifice of the faftion, and were not pur-»
ppfely thrown into his hand: he therefore

inftantly

J

O F B O M B A Y. 6i

iilftantly determined to leave a place which
teemed .with fuch danger, and haVe recourfe
to the friendftiip of others. He immediately
retreated with a body of a thoufand horfe,
with which,- on the 27th of May, he crofled
the Nerbudda, and feemingly diredled his
march towards Dehli, to which place his re*
maining friends imagined he would go ; but
when he reached Indoor, he turned (hort, and
joined Govind Row, who was then at the
head of a conliderable army aftually carrying
on the fiege of Broderah. Govind promifed
to efpoufe his caufe, and if their forces had
been johied, they would have found them-
felves at the head of 40,000 men.

If the letters thus intercepted were a de-
vice, it fucceeded even beyond the expeftatioh
of- his enemies. Holcar and Sindia, if be-
come adverfe to him, had thereby a colour
for joining the cabal, and his flight making
his affairs feem defperate, they faw the faireft
opportunity of completing their defeftion^
Accordingly a treaty was entered into be- ,
tween them, and the Five Friends, who
found it neceffary to eftablifli their fyftem
on a bafis more extended ; and to intereft
the.Rayput chiefs in their c^ufe, which j when

fupported

6z AN A C5 C O t? NT.

fupported by the joint iptereft of the ht^
mins and warriors^ would become ioimove'*
able. Holcar and Sindia, and five other
Maharatta chiefs. Were therefore aflbciated^
and the whole called by the name oflth^
twelve Friends. The infant Narraift was by
them acknowkged Paiihwa, and tha iirpaw
procured for him from the Raja. The pfin*»
cipal article of agreement among the Twelvai
was, the total and perpetual exclufioti of Ra^
gobah from the government.

The remains of Trimbuck*s army had been
re*a£^bled under another general named
Hurry Furkia, who joined the Nizam' and
Shabagee : they followed Ragobah in his re-
treat. Ragobah's officers prelied him to at-
tempt an engagement with them, hoping by
a decifive ftroke to end a fervice for which-
in his circumftances,' he was not able to pay
them, for his treafures were e3;hauftcd. This
ardour made him fufpeQ: their fidelity : oii
th^ other hand, the Nizam and Shabagee,
tliough they did not feparat^ from Furkia^
invented delays, their intention being not to'
put an end to the war^ but harrafs Ragobah,,
and draw money from» the minlfters; This
afforded him tii^e to make his retreat with^

out

».

I

J

OF BOMBAY. ^3

put lofs, and to deliberate upon his fu^
ture proceedings. He did not chufe to ven* '
ture a battle, hut direfted his viewsto Bram*
pour, hoping that when there he might be
able to raife money ; and that if Sindi? and
Holcar ^ere well inclined to hina, which
he flattered himfelf might be, as the latter
had received him in his retreat, and that
both had quarrelled with the minifters, they
\vould have it in their power eafijy to joia
him ; his proje<9: was then to retui-n into
iPerar, till the enfuing rains fliould oblige tho
Nizam to quit the field. And if he was not
joined, but forfaken, to go to Sujah ul Dowla,
the Nabob of Owdc, under whom his bro-
ther ferved in a confiderable coounand.

Union could not long fubfifl: among hh
enenjiies ; each claimed a fuperiority over the
others. Some endeavoured to get Raja Ram,,
whom they kept confined at Sattarah, and *
who had no children, to adopt a fucceflbr,
whom they would have recommended ; bu&
this he refuled.

This unfettled ft^te of affairs at Poonah
not only gave R^agobah time to breathe, but*
opened the eyes. of njany who were oj^iginally

well

# . I

64 ANACCdUNT

well inclined to him, and encouraged foitid
to affift him with their force; He was now at
Indoor, where Holcar and Sindia fent hint
confiderable bodies of' men. Govind Row
was his declared friend ; fo that he was once
more at the head of a numerous army. Hurry*
Furkia having left a confiderable detachment
near Poonah, marched with the remainder
towards Aurengabad. Shabagee retired .to*^

'wards Berar; the Nizaiii in difguft with-
drew, and remained till the rains were over

'at Dowletabad, which was to be delivered tor
him.

On the iyth of June, SaccatanEi, Nana^
and Gungaboy , in the dead of night, flevor
precipitately from' Sharpoor, where they were
to have refided during the raifls, to Poroun-
d6r : they pretended they had then found the'
truth of a treachery which they had long
fufpedled , that Morabah ^ Batehiabah - Bob-**

, bagee Ndig, whofe fon had married Rago*
bah's daughter, were to ' have feized them ;

' that Batehiabah was to have • executed this
fcheme. Being difcovered, he retired towards

; Jezeray; Morabah who, through his great,
intereft among the people, thought himfelf
fecure, re&iained at PQonah; the others went

to

OF BOMBAY. 65

to Baramooby* During thefe troubles Hyder,
Bugatta Jung, and Morarow Gopperah re-
duced the countries on their fide of the Car-
iiatic, and laid fiege to and took leveral forts
belonging to the Mahrattas.

r

Before thefe laft events, however great
the appearance of fuccefs, Ragobah thought
it prudent to ftrengthen himfelf by an alli-
ance with the Englifli. In the month of
Auguft preceding, he, through his Vaqueel
at Bombay, had made overtures for that pur-
pofe : the requeft on his fide was a body of
troops ; but the advantages he offered in re-
Compence did not come up to what the in-
terefts of the Company and the repeated or-
ders of the Directors obliged the council to
Inquire. The acqiiifition of Salcet and Bal-
feia were the firft, almoft the fole objed ; ,
the ceffion of either of thefe was what he.
could not then think of. The importance
and revenue were great ; the evident policy
of that ftate .was to reftrain within very nar-
row limits every power in the weftern part
of their dominions. The £ngli(h from their
ftrcngth and refources were of all others the
mofi: dangerous neighbours; and the bra*
mills, by the honour oi their family, were

£ bound

66 AN ACCOUNT

boiind to preferve the poiTeffion of thefe terri-
tories; they made part of the particular,
demefne of the Paifliwfts. The great Chim-
iiagee Oppah had conquered them from the
Portugueze, and it was the only ckifting
conqueft made by the natives of Indoftan
upon Europfeans. Thefe reafons^ and the
flouriihing ftate of his affairs, induced him
to rejeft the conditions propofed by the Bom^
bay council, the principal whereof were the
ceffion of thefe two valuable pdfleffions.
They waited tHl time in its revolution ihould
c^r the wiflVed^for opportunity : it. was.
now come* The infidelity of (bme, the
inconftanty 6f ' others, and the continual
dread of a reverfe of fortune, turned his^
thoughts towards the Engli^, whom he now^
looked on As the only allies who would and
could effe&ually aflift him ; he therefore
now made a ffecond application to the cotin-
cit of Bombay, which, as he wafe in greater
want of their aiHHa^ce, contained 4iff€rs af-
fording a profpedt of attaining the long
wifhed-for pofleflion of Salcet* To judge
pVopei^ly of t4iis tranfaftioii it is neceflkry
to <:onfider the Situation, circumftancefr, con-^
nekiohsj and vitws of the princes who in^
habited that p^tt otf Inddflai^. It hath been
' already

OF BOMBAY. .67

already mentioned that the Mahratra nation
coafifts of many tribes gove^-ned by Rajas,
acknowledging the fover^ignty of the cliiet
Raja, who reiides at Sattarah, and paying a
rent to him ; in other refpefts they arc like the
ancient feudatories in Europe, independent ;
each gov^erning his own iUbje^s, being at
the head of armies, and doing th^naftlves
juftice upbn any wrongs . offered by their
neighbours, but bound to a certain fervicc
when called on by the chief Raja, ainl fur-
fiiihing a number of troops both to defend
him againft enemies, or to, aflift him in ex-
peditions into the neighbouring provinces.
Each of thefe princes a£hially maintains ^
<on(iderable body of men^ according to his
meaos ; theie armies do not confift merely
of real Mahrattas, but alfb of fuch adventu-
rers as being deftitute of pofleifions feek by
foidiery to better their fortunes. If a man
can purchafe a horfe fit for military feryice,
he c^rs Jbimfelf to fome of the powers,
whether Mahometan or Hindoo : thus their
armies are ibon forined. From the nature Qi£
fuck circumflances their chiefs are feldora
united t each purfues the line which fuits his
interdftSf policy, or often pailion or prejudice ;
their unio&s mod ieparatio^ are fudden an4
iioexpeded.

Ea Th«

L

68 A N A C C O U N T

The moft coiiiiderable of thefe chiefs, as
well from the extent of his territory, as the
number of his troops, was the Botincelo,
The Raja was then an infant, adopted for a
fbn by the laft Raja Jonnagee ; he was his
nephew, the fon of his younger brother
Moodagee, who, as father^ of this minor^
claimed the regency ; but he had a brother
named Shabagee, who hieing elder than he,
^in that right claimed it alfo, Ragobah had
efpoufed the caufe of Moodagee, and had be-
lides hv his adoption of Furrut Ras ftrongly
attached him to his intereft; the Five of
courfe efpoufed the caufe of Shabagee. The
embarraffment of the affairs of thefe princes
obliged them to remain neuter. The terri-
tory of this Raja extends from Orixa to Gu-
zurat.

The Guycawars poflefs the whole Guzurat,
and the country as far as Danaum. It was
' won from the Mogul by Pillagee, the grand-
flitherof the prefent Raja; he held it for fome
time in independency, but Domulgee his foil
was by Nanah compelled to yield fome places
in it, to pay a rent, and bind himfelf to fur-
iiifh a certain quantity of troops wheii
wanted. The revenues of their pofiefiions

amount

OF BOMBAY. 69

amount to eighty lacks of rupees, and their
army to near 30,000 horfe. Inteftine divi-
fions reigned in the family during the admi- '
niftration of Madoorow. Futty Sing had
through his bribes to the governing bramins
obtained the government ; on the acceffion
of Ragobah he vvas by him deprived of it in
favour of his brother Govindrow ; this pro-
duced a war, which had lb far turned out
to the advantage of Govindrow, that Futty
Sing, wa^ driven, into Broderah, where he
was befieged' by him.

• /

Holcar and Sindia had confiderable power;
they had for a long time with-held the pay-'
ment of their rent, and their view was to
profit by the diforders that reigned among the
bramins; conlequently, though they had join-
ed with the Five, and even become members
of the confederacy, they had not continued
that union, they found it to their advantage
to a£l otherwile; "^policy requiring that Ra-
gobah fliould not be totally deilroyed.

Morarow Goparah pofl'efled the fort of.
Gutti, a ftrong place, and alfo a very con-
fiderable diftridt which bordered on the coun-
try of the Nizam. He }>ad age and raperi- ^

E 3 encc

I

76 ANAC COUNT

cnce, and fought principally the prcfervation
and quiet pofleffion of his jaghire, wilhing
tcy fide with neither party, and watching the
opportunity of making ajn advantage of the
broils x)f his neighbours.

The real as well as apparent intereft of
the Nizam was, that the^ diffentions at Poo-
nah (hoyld not ceafe. He had already ob-
tained advantages from Ragobah, by. the cef-
fion of fome diftriAs, and had alio received
confiderable fums from the Five Friends.

The interefts of Hyd^r were the fame ;
he was bufied in reducing the forts yielded to
him by Ragobah, and feemed rather inclined
to favour his caufe; but the probability was
that he would affift neither party ; yet his
attention to ieizeany advantage which might
offer, made him much to be dreaded. He
had lately ftrengthened himfelf by an al-
liance with the Dutch, concluded' with their
ambafiadors, Samuel Conftantine and Charles
Robert; the firft article of which was a
mutual engagement to affift each other againft
any power with whom each (hould be at
war ; the force to be furniftied by each in
cafe of requiiition was fettled, as was the

pay

OF BOMBAY. 71

pay they were to receive ; the governor of
Batavia was to furnifh this force.

By the eighth article Hyder required,
that (hould Mahomet Ally, or the English,
wage war againft him, the Dutch (hould
ailift him with all the force they had in
India ; and if they deiired to recover their
country in Tanjore, he would aifift them
with -all his force ; the Dutch were to have
the preference in his dominions for fandal-
wood, pepper, cardamoms, and rice, for
which they were to give iron and br^fs can-
non, and all military flores.

The Company was at peace on every fide :
the war with the Rohillas concluded to their
advantage ; the fettlement in Bengal in a
fiouriihing condition ; an army well difci-
pUned, a treafury every day increafing, and
the fornaer errors of govcrnncient and mifma-
nagement of individuals almoft obliterated.

Ragobah.was npw at the head of 40,009
horfe ; and fuch were the circumftances of
the country round, when he applied .for the
ailiftance of the Englifh, and in recompence
offered the polltilion pf Salcet, Bafiein, and

£ 4 hs

■^

I

72 AN ACCOUNT

its territory, with the fhare of the revenues.
of Surat that belonged to the Mahratta ftate*

Such terms were what the Bombay coun-
, Cil looked for ; the attainment of them ful-
filled the views of the Dlredlors, and there-
fore they without hefitation accepted them.
It was to be feared that, if refufed, Ragobah
would have had recourfe to the Porttgueze,
who would have gladly accepted even leis.
They had then lately been put upon a re«-
fpeftable footing by the increafe of their mi-
litary eftabliftiment, and a great reformation
in their governm^t, and might have been
of great lervice to his caufe. On the other
hand the tranquillity of the Eaft of India was
^ fecured; though gratitude fliould fail, intereft
. muft bind Ragobah, the maintenajice of his
pofleffion depended on the continuation of the
affiftance through which it (hould have been
obtained : the total exclufion of the rivals of
their trade in the dominions of this people ;
the accompliihment of fuch great ends,
with honour, with juftice, without blood-
fhed, with the profpeft of fequrifig a peace
through India, the execution of the repeated
orders frpm England, the crife, the only
moment perhaps never to return, .fhould they

even

O F B O MBA Y. 73

even hefitate; thefe were apparent. 'The
Portugueze were watching the moment fa-
vourable to their repofleffion of thofe places*
Their being conquered from them by Chim*
nagee Oppah in I739> was not only a mor-
tal blow to their trade and power, but a {lain
to their honour, and therefore the acqujfitiogi
of them, whether by treaty or force, the
conftant object in view: if, upon the Bom-
bay CQuncirs refufing or endeavouring to de»
lay, Ragobah had applied to them, or if the
diltradions of the Mahratta ftate continuing,
the fo much wifhed-for occation prefented it*^
lelf, they muft have Qv/xd it, and a colour
of juftice would not have been wanting, lluce
thefe domiiiions had been wrefted from them
lo lately. This colour of juftice the coun^
cil of Bombay had not, nor could, they, if
oace thele pofleffions were refumed, grant
aid to any Indian power to wreft them from
the pofl'eflbr$*. Should the Portugueze
negleftfuch an opportunity, and peace be re-

ftored

* The reforms then lately made jn the management of
the affairs of that nation had renJtred them a much more.
refpeftable power than they had been j their marine wag
incrcafed, both in number and the fize of their (hips; the
Inquifition was aboliOied, and liberty of confcience gitrea
to ail tnat fettled at Goa or in its dependencies : the ufelef»

richet

^4 AN ACCOUNT

ftorecf to the Mahratta empire, without the
interference of the ,£nglifli, either by the
deftru^lion of Ragobah or that of his ene*
lilies, not only thefe pofieflions would not be
ceded to them, but the colleftion oi Chout
would be renewed through all India. All
parties are ready for an union on the pro-
pofal of thefe expeditions ; probably the pro*
vince of Bengal, moft undoubtedly the Car-
natic, would have felt this.

10
i

The treaty concluded, fuch troops as could
then be fp&red were embarked for Surat,
whence, as circumflances Should permit,
they were ordered to join the army of Ra-
gobah« Thefe were 2500 men under the
command of Colonel Keating. The plan
was to affift in the reduftion of Broderah,
then befieged by Grovindrow ; and, after hav-

riches of the churches were declared to belong to the
kiog, and were applied to public ufes : the admlniftratioa
of juftice was put od a firm footing, ^nd carried on by
perfons fent from Liibon, uncooneAed with the inhabitants
of Goa ; the ranks of the clergy and military fettled ; and
that every thing might look to the encouragement of this
fervice^ the dienomina lions of that rank were taken from
military names : thns a biftiop had the rank of a brigadier
general. The force adually in Goa confifted of four regi-
ments of infantry, amounting to 2240 men ; one of ma-
rines, 800 ; three of natives^ 20QO ; and 6000 fepoys.

OF BOMBAY. ys

ing put Mni in pofieiSon of that important
place^ and thereby fecur^d a friendly coun<^
try in the rear, to march direftly to Poonah.

Xhis treaty, or the preparations in confe*
quence, could not be carried on with that
fecrecy neccfl'ary to (ecure the effl-iSts of them*
Hurry Punt Furkia, one of the confederates,
who commanded their army, was apprized of
Ragobah*s application, and determined to at-
tack him whilft the fuperiority was on their
fide: he, therefore, \^ithout lofs of time,
dire£ted his march to Broderah. This obliged
Ragobah to raiie the (iege, and retreat to the
Mahi, a river near Cambay. Futty Sing
joined the confederate army ; and, knowing
the country, led them lo expeditioufly, that
crofling the Mahi, they came unexpeftedly
upon the center of the array of Ragobah,
An a^ion. enfued, in which Ragobah for
fome^ time defended himfelf well, till, by
a party of Arabs who had engaged in the
fervice of Govindrow, refufing to chztgCf
he thought himfelf betrayed, and quitting
the field, retired with one thouiand horfe to
Cambay* His general Phaukrea, with the
beft.of his troops, retreated to the fort of
Copperwange, about one hundred and fifty

cofs

76 AN ACCOUNT^

cofs from Cambay, where Govindrow and
Condah Row joined him. From Cambay,
Ragobah proceeded to Surat, where the force
fent from Bombay found him ; here he ratified
the treaty. His general gave him notice of
his retreat to Copperwange, with his aHies ;
of their fafety and numbers, and of the poi-
fibility of tfFefting a jun6lion with the Eng-
lifli force (hould they advance to Cambay.
Upon this it was determined our army (hould
proceed there, the tranfport, by fea was eafy
and fecure ; on the i8th of March they ar-
rived, 'and proceeded to j'>in the army of Ra-
gobah. The confederate army lay between
them ; yet, by a qaotion happily concerted
between the commanders, the Englilh got
poffelfion of a fecuie poft beyond the confe-
derates, and a junction was formed on the
1 9th of April 1775. The whole of the army
thus combined amounted to 37,500; of
which 2500 were Englifh troops.

Fortune, or rather the ill-timed rapacity
of the confederates, once more favoured Ra-
gobah. Deeming his ruin compleated by
the laft defeat, they haftened to fill their trea-
fury. Orders w:ere fcnt to Hurry Punt Fur-
kia, their general, to feize Modagee.Sindia,
the jaghedar of Uguir, and fend him to Poo-

nah

OF B O M B A Y.^ 77

nah to fettle his accounts ; he had intelJi^
gence of this, and knowing the confquences
of fuch an imprifonment, he determined not
to venture it, and fuddenly left the confc"
derate arniy with 12,000 horfe ; the pre*
tence was, that troubles had arifen in hi$
province, which his prefence was neceflary
to compofe. . Colonel Keating loft no time
in advancing towards the enemy, who,
though fuperior in numbers, carefully avoided
an engagement, conftantly retreating as he
advanced, and fometimes fo as might be well
termed flying. Ragobah had fome parti-
cular realons to wifti that our march fhould
be direfted northward, but the deftination
and exprefs orders required that the march
ihould be to Puonah.

«

The confederates were ftruck with the de-
fertion of Sindia; it gave them room to
fufpeft the (incerity of Holcar,, their other
northern ally ; the Nizam, notwithftanding
the ceflions made, and fubfidies granted by
them, fent no -troops to their afliftance;
their, ally Shabagee Bouncelo had been lately
cut off by his^ brother Modagee ; feveral
chiefs, on whole affiftance they had reckoned,
now grew cold, and did not join them ;

probably,

L

7« A N A C C O U N T

probably, if Ragobah marched with vift dry
to Poonah, would follow his ftandard. The
wdght which the affiftance of the Englilh
would throw hito the fcale, the extent
whereof yet was uncertain ; all thefe cir-
cumftances determined the confederated to
hazard an engagement } if they were vido*
rious it would flop the current, and pepare.
the way for a negotiation with us, which Sac-
caram Bappo and Nafiah Fumeze were thea
tnedttating ; if they were defeated, the ruiu
now irievitable was only accelerated. They
therefore fent orders to Hurry Furkia to riik
an engagement.

In every war, whether external or civ^il^
there are inconveniencies'oii each iide, which
furniih great advantages to the adveriary:
experienced perfons know that they are in«
herent in the nature of huoian afiairs, and
from that experience conclude they exvft :, it
was (b here, Ragobah laboured under the
want of treafure j -when he was furprized
and forced to retreat to Caihbay, all he could
carry with him was the value of iii lacks of
roupies in jewels ; the remainder of his va«
luable effeds, which hod not fal^len into the
pofleffion of his enenucs, was (ecurea in the

fort

OF BOMBAY. 7^

fortofDhar^ where his family had retii^^
and was not then within hi$ reach* TheTe
iix lacks were infifted on as a pledge of his
performing his engagements to the Com*
pony* The refource of 4x>rrowing from the
%roffs or money-lenders at Surat could be
bat weak whilft his afiairs ftood in a preca-
rious iitaation, his own fecurity was not fuf*
ficient to procure their tnift, and it was •
Aep boo bold for the council of JBombay to
engage the credit of the Compaoy : this
diftrefs was well knowei at Poonah; and
diat the Indian troops^ if not paid regularly^
<sr have not itqme profpedl of imjiaediate fatif^
fadion, will mot fight, or if they are brought
to face the £30 do it i&intly ; and the confe*
derates hoped ibme advantage would ariie to
diem from it during an engagement: aiiy
fi)rtunate turn, the acceiOon of fome chkfs^
would £0 change the afped of a&irs as to
make thefe difadvantages vaniih : this was>
another great incitement to their deteroiioa*
tion of hasarding a battle.

Ragobah^s wifli was to have penetrated
northward to Ahmedavad, where he hoped
to have procured money, which he flood ib
ouich in need of.; but this fcheme was fixMi

found

I

L

«o AN ACCOUNT

£6mvA by Colonel Keating to be replete with
inconveniencies, not only as it delayed the.
principal objeft in view, which was his efta-
bliihment at Poonah, but from the nature
of the march itlelf, as moving fouthward
would oblige the enemy to follow, and the
iboner bring them to an action : he therefore
infifted on bending their march that way.
This had its effect ; the minifterial army fol-
lowed, and on the i8th of May came up
to the rear of the Englifli^ as they were at
the entrance of a tillage where there were*
ibme defiles ; their Commander havii^g ex-
pelled this, his troops were verjpifoou formed
to receive them welU and thwiigh they at-
tacked with great, reibiution, they were re-
pulfed with a Very great lols on their fide,
and very little on that of the Engiiih, till
unfortunately the firft company of 'European
grenadiers, by an ill judged movement to the '
right retreated too precipitately ttom their
ground ; they were followed by the Madras,
infantry, and thefe by ibme lepoys; their
movement, though too rapid, was regular
till they reached fome hedges with openings
at intervals ; crovyding to get through theie
occafioned confufion, during which they were
charged with fuccefs by a body of horfe.
^ , ^ They

O F ^ O'M B AY. 8i

They then fled, nor could they be rallied,
fcven by the commander himfelf j their flight
having cleared "the ground of them, the
artillery played with fuch fuccefs on that
body of horfe, that there remained not more
than ten. This Unfortunate motion was
6wing to an order given by the comniandef
to ftizefome guns of the enemy, which muft
have been improperly repeated and ill un-
derftbod t many officers were kilkd on that
occaflon. This was the only lofs on the fide
of the Engliih ; that of the enemy was very
great, the artillery having deftroyed great
numbers of men , hoiffes, aftdfome elephants;
ihany periflied in their flight, and every. day*3
ilcws increafed their lofs. Thus the event
was fortunate to Ragobah, and fo damped
the fpirit of his enemies, that the confederate
army never from that tinie was brought to
ftand ■ another attack ; they retreated, with-
out even niaking ufe of the advantage of
many defendable pofts which the country
offered. On the 1 9th of May Colonel
Keating pafled the Mahi in pit rfuit of them,
but could not reach them till the i oth of
June, whetx, at the pafs of Bowapier, they
crofled the Nerbedah ; the Engliih army
there came up to their rear, which they at-

- F tacked

L..

82 A N A C C O U N T

tacked with fucceis : many were killed, th<:tt
cannon were loft in the river, and mai^y
men, hories, and camels drowned ; they i-e^
treated frc»n thence with precipitation^ )eav«
ing great quantities of provender atid prck
yifion that they had not time to deftroyj
which, with fbme horfes and an elephanti fell
into the purfuers hands : and thus the pro*
vince of Guzurat was evacuated. ,Tq conv*
plete their misfortune, in their retreat, whea
they came to the Tappy, near Golow, it was
fb fwelled and rapid, that in. paiiing it diey
loft a thoufand horie. A little time before
this the Mahrattas from Baiiein h^d made
^n attempt on Salcet, where they landed
with 3500 nien, but were repulied with
great lofs on their fide.

The monfbons near approach inade a fur-^
ther progrefs fouthward dangerous : it was
neceflary therefore to fufpend that part of the
operations; but what remained of the fair
feafon was employed in the reduction of Dvit>-
bay, a fortified place fituated between Ba*
roach and Biroderah : this pofleffion pro-
duced confiderabie advantages. . Our army
could winter there, and - the proxiajhy <^
Baroach made it ealy at the opening of the

feafba

s.

OP BOMBAY; 8j

feafba for fi^h rcinforcemonts and fupplies
as might be fent from Bombay to join the
army j thence the fiege of Brodera might be
eafily undertaken. The pofleffion of that
place was neceflary to fecure the country be-
hind, when the army fhould proceed to Poo-*
nah, the great objeft of the expedition. Other
Incidents then began to incline the balance to
the caufe of Ragobah, and the particular ad^
Vantage of the Engliffi. ^

It harfi already been mentioned that Futty
Sng, one of the Gwicawars, had been ap-
pointed governor of the country of Guzurat by
the confederates ; as - his advancement was
owing to the money he had given them, he did
not look on it as binding him to their caufe,
which he had efpoufed folely with a view of
preventing the ravage of his country ; the cef-
lions made by Ragobah to the Englilh, (hewed
bim things in a different light ; he had, even,
at the time he joined the confederate army,
made diftant overtures to him, the retreat of
Furkia made them ferious and earndft. The
appearance of fuccefs was totally on this
fide ; if the reality followed it, all chance of
his retaining any part of what he now pof-
feffed, was loft ; he had therefpte recourfe to

F ii th?

84 ANACC.OUNT

the mediation of the Engliih, to whom he
not only confirmed thofe grants which Ra-
gobah had made in the country under his go-
vernment, but made further ceffipns to the
amount of i 78 ,000 roupies * a year, Through
this mediation a treaty was made with Ra-
gobah ; Futty Sing fubmitted to pay hiaa
the ufual tribute, and furnifli him* the aid
claimed by the Durbar of Pooiiah ; and what
was of^moft importance at that time, pro-
mifed me payment of twenty-fix lacks within
the fpace of fixty days, Ragobah found
jifeans to fatisfy Govindrow, and conclud-
ed this advantageous treaty of peace and al-
liance in the month of July 1775.

The profpedl of the affairs of the Com-
pany had not a lefs favourable appearance at
lea. In the beginning of the, year the Mah-
ratta officer who commanded at Geriah had
equipped a fquadron confiderable for that
country: it confifted of five Ihips ; one of
forty-lix, two of thirty-two, and two of
twenty-fix guns, befides ten Gallwats, or
fmaller veflels, alfo armed. Commodore
• John Moore, with the Revenge and the Bom-

* .17,800 L at 2s. the roupic.

bay

r

OF BOMBAY. 85

hay grab, coming into thefe feas, immedr*
ately ftood toward this fleet, which bore .
away; he ordered the, grab to chace the ad-
mirars fhipi which was that of forty •fix
guns : the grab engaged her ; this gave time
for the Commodore to come up before fhe
could run alhore ; after an engagement of
two hours the Mahratta admiral blew up,
and was entirely deftroyed ; her commander
and mo{\ of the crew perifliing. The trade
along the Malabar coaft was now effJiStually
protected.

The caufe of Ragobah feemed now trium-
phant ; befides the acceffion of Futty Sing,
which enabled him to pay his troops, his
friend and ally Moodagee Bouncelo now in
full and undiflurbed pofleffion of his domi-
nions, was advancing to join him at the
head of a very refpe^ftable force. Ifhmael
Cawn was in march to join him with 4000
horfe, Appagee Gunnis, who commanded
at Ahmadabad, entered into treaty tq fur-^
render the place to him. The poffeflipn of
this fecured him from any en^my tq the
north of Nerbedah. A detachment was
adually lent to receive it,

F 2 The

U AN A C C O U NT

Yhe confederates bad made gr^t advance!
to the Nizam to engage him to lend them
afSftsmce ; they ofiered to cede to him the
important fortrefs of Dowletabad with Bur^^
httmpore Aflery, and fome diilrifts i^hich
the Mahrattad had conquered. Though he
treated their pi^tenfions, and th^ infant
P^fliwa they had fet up, /with the greateft
contempt, the advantage oflfered were too
great to be rejeded ; the pofieflion of thele
celfioms once gained^ a dei^terous fiding wit!)
the yiftorious party wpuld confirm it. If
foffune kept the balance even, lyhilft it did
fo he was fure of the cojitino^nce of this
pofleffion ; he therefore entered into tireaty,
and made a folemn engagement to ailift
them, aiid in coniequence they evacuated
Dowletabad, and gave orders to their troops
to withdraw from the other ceded places :
but now he few, the time was come when to
retain thefe he muft abandon his x^ew allies :
tlie Engliih haying efpoufed the caufe of Ra-
gobah, had changed the facepf afiairs : appli<»
cation was therefore rnade through the Na-
bob of Sur^t for th9 Nizam to be admit-'
ted into the alliance. He required the con-
^rmation of what had been ceded to him,
and that the Engliih ihould gqarantee this

pofieiiioR :

OF BOMBAY. 87

f^f£Saa ; in return he ofiered his whole force,
anififtiog of 5O9OOO horie, 15,000 fepoys^
aoda train of artillery : at the fame time he fent
his vaqueei to Ragobah to propoie a general
accommodation .on this plan, that Ragobah
ihouid enjoy all the honours of the Pai(hwa«-
Aip, and flifficient revenues to maintain his
dignity, that the government (hould be car-
ried on in the name of his adopted ion Fur-
rat Row, that the adminiftration iliould be
ia Marabah Furaeze as Duan, arid the con-
iederates fully pardoned, and fecured in the
pofieffion of their effeSts^ and the cefIioii6,
as jiift now mentioned, were to ^ confirmed
to him«

As the cauf^ of Ragobah advanced, that
of the confederates declined. Sindia and
Holcar had d(^ferted them, and the lofs of
their afiiftance was a fatal blow, for on that
they principally depended. Nanoo Oppah
governor of Poonah, whofe reputation and
' private ch£(rader gave their party credit, was
dead : IVf orabah Furneze who was one of the
minifters, and a man of confideration, had
not from the heginning; joined the confede-
racy, thou^ be had fubmitted to ad under
the goverxuneqt it had eftabliihed : and yet,

F ^ fo

♦I

k^

88 A N ACCOUNT

fo much were they afraid of his influence,
that they left him unmolefted, Shabagee
Bounce lo * was no more, and death had
taken from them another very uleful friend
in the perfon of Ruckna 41I Dowlah, the
minifter of the Nizam, to which accident
they attributed his leaving them, and treating
with Ragobab. But the union of the Eng-
lifli was tlie moft fatal ftroke ; refiftance to
this was by moft of the confederacy confi-
dered as vain in the end, and this defpou^-
dency, which made each man felicitous for
his own fafety, and anxious for fecurity of
his perfon ^nd wealth, made him fufpicious
of his neighbour, and defirous to prevent
him in treating either with Ragobah or his
allies ; add to this, that from the known ra-
pacity of the. bramins, their fuccefs was
dreaded, even by their friends ; that vice had
infected and deprefled their affairs from the
beginning. The feyeral Mahratta chiefs who
had been drawn tp fupport their caufe by
promjfes of large fums, were fruftrated ; the

''^ There was a conteft betweeq Shabagee and Mooa^
gee ; a' battle enfued ; in this Monagee was defeated and
taken prifoner, and the aext morning Shabagee Was found
ijcad iq his bed : Monagee was reftqrcd and proclainjcd
flaja of Berar,

public

r

OF BOMBAY., 89

public treafure leflened by their partial ma-
iiagement, and now exhaufted by what they
had fent the Nizam, could furnifli no more;
and though the bramins had great fums of
their own, their avarice overcame their policy,
and prevented their facrificing any thing to
the common caufe; each, when applied to,
referred to the treafure expefted from the Sir-
cars. The nature of their troops prevented
their being relied on when oppofed to re-
gulars with a well ferved artillery ; for each
man had two fears, that for his horfe being
as ftrong as for himfelf, and as they are con-
tinually clamorous for their pay or other
reward of fervice^ the greateft advantage may
often be loft for want of a fufficiency to fa- •
tisfy them. Furkia was ever in dread of
feme accident of this kind ; he faw the dif-
latisfaftion among the chiefs, and every mo-
ment was at the eve of being forfaken, per-
haps feized and delivered up to the enemy.
This had induced him, even in his flouriih-
ing ftate, to try diftant overtures for peace ;
during his retreat the evil increafed, the
men \\ ho had loft their horles openly com-'
- plained, and demanded their pay of their
leaders, who in their turn prefled their corh-
piander : to fatisfy their detpand • was im-r

polfible ;

L

j?o A N A C C O U N T

poffiblct thou^ he had received bills &^
iifteen lacl^s of roupies from Poonah, the
iShro^ refused to anfwer them. His defiga
was to have marched to the northward, where
he would have hten at hand to watch the
operations of the allies in the opening of th$
campaign ; but the army refuting to follow,
he had been obliged to change his route, and
march to iPoonah ; his army amounted ta
|)etween |:wenty and thirty thoufand horfe
^d foot. In hi$ way he paded (hrough
Holcar's country, who refufed to advance
foiy monpy, and under pretence that the dt^th
of Sujah pi Dowlah * nwde his prefence n^-^
peflary in his jj^hiere he totally and avow*
edly withdrew his troops? Saccaram Bappoo
and Nanah Furiie^e had ient Vaqueels to
Bombay to ^reat of ao accomumodation i the
Vaqueels wiere to treat jointly ; one of them
fell fick on his arrival ; before he recovered,
the pretident was attacked with illnefs> and
it was not thought proper to break through
the common forms whjch might have (hewn
too great an eagernefs, eafily conftrued into
jfear, the idea of ^hi?h flight haye gjivea

* Sujah ul Dowlah was the NalK>]b of Qwdq, a provioct
bordering on the poJOTefBons of the Cpjmpanj, and lying
jj^tvreea xixta and j:he ||lahratta country*

» I

J

f

OF BOM B AV: 9r

tbem a confidence and eDcoutagement to in^
fid cm better terms than what wore the ulti*?
mate end of their commbSon ; which^ thou^
tbey had not yet deckred, wac^ on goo4
g^rand, fuf^ofed to be principally ibcuriQi'
for the parens and wealth of the confedeiatest
and perhaps ibme private advantage for tfadur
immediate employes.

Thus all tended to the eAobiiihment of
Ragobah^ and the redudton of his enemies :
tlus fttdden traiifition from a ftate of wretch-
ednefs to that of profpeiity was totally owing
to tl^e Englifli having avowedly efponfibd his
jcauie : a refpe^ for their power^ and a com*
fidence in their ^h, had inducecf the neigh-
bour ^iefs to follow that party^ and n^ake
ffaem guarantees of the performance of the
treaties ^ey entered wto under their medi«*
atioa: the proiperity and honour of the
Company was fully eflrablilhed iii the Weft

as in the Eaft of Indo{i:an« when the exer-

• *. . 'i ^ . ■• ■

^on of the authority placed in the governor
andfouf^jl of Bengal, by the aA<jf parlia-
ment pa0bd in the year 1773, almoft totally
ruined the fair edifice ib fortunately hither?*
to efefted,

^2 AN ACCOUNTS

* The news of the treaty with. Ragohah,
and of the march in conlequence, arrived at
Calcutta. the latter end of May i 775* Far
from meeting with the approbation of the
governor and council there, it was condem-
ned by all as a meafuire impolitic, unjuft, and
unauthorized ; impolitic, as throwing the bur-
den of the war on the Company ; unj uft, as no
injury had been received from the Mahfatta
ftate ; and unauthorized, as the a£t of par-
liament vefted in the Supreme Council the
authority of treating with the powers of In-
doftan. The manner of carrying on the
war in confequence of the treaty. was no lefs
reprobated than the treaty itfelf. Sending
the Company's troops at fuch a diftance from
Bombay was called. a rafli ftep, which might
be attoided with fatal confequences. The
governor general, in his minute of the .31ft
May 1775, painted thefe fuppofed evils in a
very ftrong. light, though at the fame time he
prefented many difficulties attending the exe^
cution.of any orders they plight give in con-r
lequenpe of this reprobation ; and therefore
profefled that he was much embarrafled iu
his choice of what meafures might be moft
proper to betaken* That as things could no^
be replaced as they originally ftood, fo the
f ' diftange

O F B O M B AY. ^J

diftance they were At prevented them from
knowing the exa8: fituation of them at that
time ; that it might be fiich*that the with-
drawing our troops from Ragbbah might be
attended with many difficulties, perhaps dan-
gers. He therefore propoled that the prefi-
dent and council of Bombay fhould be en-
joined- to cancel the treaty with Ragobah,
and withdraw the detachment within th«
lines of the Englilh pofleffions, unlefs it
(hofuld appear, in the firfl: place, that they
had obtained fome confiderable advantage ;
or, fecondly, that it fhould be dangerous to
recall the detachment; or, thirdly, that a
negociation fhould have taken place bctweea
Ragobah and his opponents.

Mr: Barwell concurred with the governor
general in the exception propofed, and voted
againft the recall of the army ; but General
Clavering, Colonel Monfon, and Mr. Francis'
'were totally againft any exceptions whatfb-
ever; and it'was voted by that majotity, thatf
the treaty fhould be cancelled, and the troops
abfolutely recalled; It was determined to
enter into a dire^ negotiation with the party
at Poonah, and to fend Colonel Upton to
treat iwith them in the name of the Supreme

Council:

94> AN ACCOUNT

C!outicU: the puirport of the iaftra^ns td
he^ given to him was, m the Btfk pkce, tx)
exprefs a regpet £or the hi?d(tile me^ur^s ad«>
opted by the coUBcU of Bombay in conc»i>
rence with Ragobahy the Suprente Couocirs
4i£ipprobatioa of that tcea^^ their defira
of re-eflabliihtng a fiocere and lafting peace^
to excufe the feiiure of Salcet as a meaiure
only to prevent its falling into the hand) of
the Portugue2e^ and to altedge th« impfM^
billty of reftoring it without the p^rmifikm
of the Diredora^ to inform thdnir of the or^
dsrs given for the wkhdmwing oi^r troopa
from Ragobah^ and to endeavour to include
in the treaty^

In the mean time* letters were, written to
Saccaram Bappoo at Poonah» aniKHincing the
departure of Colonel Upton^ expteffing a dii^
approbation of the meafures purfued by the
council of Bombay, and mforming them of
the orders given in coniequenc^. Sa^car^m
was an extraordinary person i he had riien
fyom an orij^nal ibte of poverty, which pr^**
Vented the firft rudiments of educa!^, by
a natural addrefs which fnpptied that waott
he had by degrees advanced his fortune (:>
as to attain the pnncipal offices of the ibi$^

hi»

J

OF BOMBAY. 95

4

his experience feconded his t^lents^ bi^t not
knowing how to write or read he was obliged
to make ufe of and truft others* His prin*«
cipal confidant was a braniin called Lalar^
who had been governor of Concan^ a provinoe
including Salcet and Baflein, and had reaibn
if that party prevailed, to hope a return to
that government* Saccaram knew the true
iaterefts of the Mahratta ftate, and therefore
was naturally averfe to any cedions of terri^
tory, and every naeafure which could tend
to give power and ftrength to the English ;
this inclination mufl have been greatly
ibengthened by the reprefentation of Lalar,
who, by the ceflions propofed, would be fo
great a loier; this letter was there&>re too
favourable to their viewd, not to produce
great efFcdls. The firft was, frefli inftruc*
tions immediately ient to their Vaqueels at
Bombay, which arrived before they had de-
clared in form the purport of their miffion :
this now appeared very different from the
humility which accompanied their firft ap*
plication : they demanded that the perfbn
of Ragobah fhould be delivered up to th^n r
the reftoration of Salcet, and other acquifi^
tions which were then in aftual poi&ilion of
the Englifh ; and the relinquiihing all thought

of

96 AN ACCOUNT

of Baifein, in return for which they conde*
fcended to defray the charge and expence hi*
therto incurred : yet at this very time, in all
re{pe£ts, other than the change likely to hap-*
pen by the reiblution of the Bengal council,
the affairs of the confederates were in a fitu-
ation almoft defperate ; Morabah Furneze
had lent a trufty perfon to Rngobah with af-
furance, that he and four of the moft power-
ful men at Poonah were ftrongly attached to
bis interefts ; and information that Furkia
was at Aurengabad, having fcarce 5000 men
under his command ; that the whole force
of the confedeptes did tiot exceed 12,000,
and thofe not ealily affembled, or worthy of
dependance on them ; that Saccaram and Na-
nah Furneze had fecured themfelves in Po-
rounder fort, fearing to go from it^ that Mo-
rabah himfelf was actually C9lle<Sting a force,
from the troops lately pjdd off by the confe-
cfcrates, which he doubted not, by the time
the allie§ could afcend the Gauts *, would
amount to 10,000 horfe, with which he
would join Ragobah, and carry him without
bloodfhed to Poonah. At the fame time the
news from the fouthern parts were equally

* Gauts, Goats, or Gattcs, art pafles through the
mountaios.

favourable :

d P ]6 6 M fe A V. ^7

faVoiiirable : Beefi Sing, the Raja of Marwai*,
fent his Vaqueel with inforraatibrij that he
was on his march to join him, that he was
within forty-five cofs of Aurengabad, and that
his force confifted of 1 0,00 b men.

The couiicil at Bombay were Arucfc with
iamazcmement at the refolutions of the Sifc^
preme Council, and the celerity with which
they afted in confequence. They deputed
Mr; William Taylor, one of their body, to
Calcutta^ to reprefent the motives which had
induced them to a£t ; the confequences of
what they had done; the happy fit nation of
the affairs of the party they had efpoufed ;
the benefits that would refult to the Com-*
pany from the ceffious ftipulated by their
treaty with Ragobah ; the danger of reducing
him todefpair, by abandoning his caufe; the
difgrace that would attend a breach of a
treaty fo folbmnly made ; and the necefiity
they were under to make it, if they Would
obey the orders of the Dire£tors to omit no
occafion that fliould offer of getting Salcet
and B^fiein into pofleflidn.

Mr; Taylor arrived in the beginning of
October 1775, and, on the 9th, prefented a

O ' ^ memorial

)

5>8 AN ACCOUNT

memorial to the Governor and Council, re-
prefenting thefe feveral meters, and prpying
the fatal confequencesiof finding any perfon
diredly from Calcutta to Poonah.

After defending the meafures of the Bom-
bay, council, by ihewing the'advaAtage ac-
cruuig from th,is treaty, and the nec^ifity of
acting m conformity tq the , ordei;s^ of the
Directors, the danger attending th^ altera^ioa
of meafures, and forfaking Ragob^h^ from •
the circumftancesofthe neighbouring princes;
the dij^raoe. necjeffarily fgllpwing . the breach
of a treaty, which, though perl^ps r?lcind-
abie by the Supreme Council, if the fettle-
ment by the Jate a<51: of parliament ^yas fuch
as to invalidate in ev^ry cafe, the a£ls of
fubordinate prelidenqies when not confirmed
by that council ; yet as to the powers witll .
whom it was made, . unacquainted with
thefe new arrangements, and c#nfi4ent tliaf
when they ti;eated with the Bombay coun^
cil, they treated wkh the Company,, ipuft
be looked on by them as having forcf,.and
not to be refcinded without a. breach o£
good faith ; the policy of keeping up the
prefent mode of ajlminiftfation in, Poonah
without running the hazard of having the

bramins .difpoffefled, wh^ch. might happen »

by

I

i

r

OP BOMBAY.- 99

hy the deftruAion of Ragobah that party
fhpDlct want a chief, and muft end in re*
eftabli(hihg the Raja in power, and put ati
end to all diiiention, the confequences of
which muft be fatal to the peace of all the
ripft of India;

«

That as the letter written to Saccaram was^
worded,, implying that the Supreme Council
were unai^yaipted with the acknowledg-
mtvA of Ragobah as PaiOiwa previous to the
treaty, it left it yet in their power to chule
what meafures they would take ; he there-
fore entreated them to warrant and aififl; the
council of Bombay to fulfill their engage-
ment with the Paifljwa, as the only fafe
and honourable expedient in this junfture,
and probably the laft opportunity of attain-
ing the end propofed by the Diredlors, and
eftabliflxing the affairs of the Company on a
firnji and folid bails. But whatever might
be their ultimate refolve, as to treating at
Poonah, he moft earneftly recommended that
the orders for withdrawing the army froai
Ragobah (hould be revoked ; it would have
at leaft this good efied, that all parties would
be kept in fufpence until it fhould be finally
known, whether the pr^fent cbnteii fhould

G 2 be

L

106 AN ACCOUNT

be decided by treaty or arms ; it would pre-
vent the bad confequences of a defertion of
Ragobah, which muft be that of his allies,
and inevitably of the Englifh ; that what-
ever judgment might be formed of the origin
of the meafures, even though the council
had unneceflarily engaged in a war, yet the
continuance of it, as things flood, was ne-
ceflary to the fafety of the Company. If it
fliould be objefted, that this war was a vio-
lation of engagements formerly entered into
with the Mahratta ftate, and of a neutrality
recommended by the Diredors, the anfwer
was plain : thefe engagements being with the
acknowledged chief of that nation and its
legal representative, could not be a violation,
but were in truth a continuation of the old ;
that on one fide honour, acquifition of re-
venue, and influence in the firft ftate in
India, muft be the consequence of purfuing
the enterprise ; on the other weaknefs,
difgrace, and ruin muft follow the retreat
of the army before the accommodation
which fettled the interefts and fecured the
lafety of the feveral parties ftiould have taken*
place. Before Mr. Taylor prefented this
memorial he had conferences with the Go-
vernor General, and each of the members of

the.

OF BOMBAY. loi

the council. The Governor, whofe long
refidence in and experience of the affairs of
India, made him a more competent judge,
was foon convinced that the ftep was preci-
pitate ; Mr. Barwell joined with him. In-
deed he had from the beginning oppoied the
withdrawing of the army ; but the three .
members lately arrived from England had
adopted a principle of peace in all events,
and therefore over-ruled every expedient pro-
pofed by the Governor for complying in fonrie
gieafure with the reprefentation of Mr.Taylor,
and fo determined was their refolution, that
an anfwer was returned to his memorial the
very day it was prefented. All thefe things
happened in Oftober 1775 *•

In confequence of the refolutions taken by
the Supreme Council, pofitive orders were
fent to the council of Bombay, that the
Englifli army (hould immediately with-
draw within the limits of the Company's
pofl^ffions ; that if Ragobah defired a retreat,
they fhoul4 affiird it him ; that until the treaty

fhould

* It may be proper to place iq one view the feveral
places ceded to^the Company by the treaty between thciR
^ni Ragobah, with their produce to the Company.

C 3 Salcet^

i

]

J02 AN ACCOUNT

fhould be fettled between Colonel Upton and
. the government at Poonah, they fhould re-
tain the poffeffion of Broach, Coriab, Chicke-

Salcet, Caragah^ Elephanta, Hog Ifland, Rs.

and Canary produce a year — 3SO,oco

BafTeln^ with its dependeocies, — 400,000

Orpad — — — — 350,600

Jamboficr — — — 400,000

The Gwjcawars Share of Broach 350,000

To be paid annually from Occlafier 7 5,000

I

Total Roupies 1,925,000
Which, at 2S. the roupie, is L. 192,500
and at 2s.3d. the common

exchange, is L. 2 16,562

Prefented to the Company ■ '
fince the treaty by Rago-
bah, and Futty Sing on
the conclufion of their
treaty, ' Rs.

Coriab, near Broach, 50,000 ,

Chickely, near Surat, ioo,oo#

Veriow, near Surat, 28,000

A hmood, adjoining Broach, 150, 000

— — — 328,000

Total ceded for ever 2,253,000

Remaining fecurily for the 7 L. 225,300 ^t 2s.

payment of the fubCdy 3 or L. 253,442 at 2s.3d.

Remainder of the revenue Rs.

of Occlafier 1 10,000

Hanfooc — — 127,000

Verfaw •*- — — 100,000

Total fecurity 3 3 7,000

» * ■■>■

ley,

OF BOMBAY. 103

ley, and Verfaw, but carefully avoid all ho-
ftilities with the Mahratta army. Colonel
Upton was to perform his journey to Poonah
by land» Though this was to take up a
great length of time, no inconvenience was
forefeen, as it was fuppofed that, upon a cef-
fation of arms, every thing would remain
quiet and in the fame ftate, and that paflports,
as well as Conveniencies of travelling, would
be procured for him during his whole route
by the provifion of the Poonah government.
The Colonel fet out on the loth of July
1775, with a proper accompaniment, hav-
ing with him Captain Allen Macpherfon, Sir
James Paterfon, Dr. Sutton Banks a phyfi-
cian, and Captain Benjamin Wroe : and on
the 24th of September had proceeded as far
as Benares : he there received letters from
Saccaram, the contents whereof gave him
no great encouragement; and whole ftyle
was fuch, that he complained of it to the
Supreme Council, who thereupon wrote to
Saccaram ; and at the fame time to the co-
lonel, that he (hould take advantage of thc^ f
fituation of the army under Colonel Keating, ^
by telling the Poonah minifters, that it now re-
mained inaftive near Surat, but tliat it ihould
ad according to their behaviour; if they made

G 4 any

'

I04 A N A C C G U N T

any motion with their troops, that armjf
ihould likewjfe move, and th^ Suprenie
Council would not think themfelves botiqd
to keep terms of amity with them : that as
the Council meant to a<3: with good faith,
they expeftefl the fame treatment in eyery
inftancer

The earneftnefs of the Englifli for peape
had appeared plainly in the beginning ; for
the ceffation of arms had been publifhed, au4
taken place in the mouth of Auguft ; and
now, notwithftanding the preffing inftances of
Ragobah, that the army fliould not yet with-r
draw from him, as it would produce fuch a
coldnefs amongft all his friends, who would
give up his caufe ?s loft and himself as
ruined that he ihpyld be immediately aban-
doned by thern, the army, on the aoth of
Oftober 1775, began itg rnarph froniDut)bay
to retire into the Pergunnah of Surat ; and
on the 13th of Novetnber were withixi fix-
teen cq{$ of that pity, Ragobah dared not
remain without theip pttJtetlion , and there-
fore with bis troops followed their rparcfe;
with hope, that from the reprefentatipn?
made at Calcutta, the Council might b? y??

mdjiced (o favour his caufe.

\. ^ ^ ' ' * The

I
(

I

i

J

OF BOMBAY. 105

The Nabob of the Carnatic, fearing the
inroads of the Mahrattas when once they
fliould enjoy peace at home, defired to have
a fhare in any treaty which fhould be con-
icluded by Colonel Upton with them ; and
for jhat purpofe that he might fend a Va-
queel to Poonah ; the Council confented
* that Mr. Chambers fhould go from him to
)be afliftant to Colonel Upton in what regarded
his intereft ; but he was not to treat himfelf
with the minifters, or a£l in any other man*
ner than through the Colonel, who alone was
to. manage all matters with them. Colonel
Upton in proceeding on his journey did not
jSnd the effeds expejfted from that readi-
nefs in the Poonah Durbar, which the majo-
rity of the Supreine Council flattered them-
felves with. On the 35th November he
wrote from Bopaul, which is feventy cofs
from Burhampoor, that he met many obAa-
cles ; that the country was in arms ; that
he had yet received no paflport from Poonah ;
at the fajne tinae tjie miniftry wrote to the -
Supreme Cpiincil, thap they had given orders'
tor haying every thing prepared, {o that Co-
Jonel Upton might have a free paflage ; but
that they had not then heard of his approach.
The ftyle of this letter (hewed no pacific in-
fliujitions ; they complained that the Bombay

council;

I

io6 AN A <3 C O U N T

council had not been attentive to the orders
received from the Supreme Council; that
they buffered the army under Colonel Keating
to aft ofFenfiveiy ; they found fault that Eng-
lifll fhips failed from place to place m theit
dominions, as if there was a full and entire
peace eftablifhed between the two nations ;
they threatened to intercept them by means
of the Mahratta fleet, and to (hut their ports
againft them, and that if the places which
had been taken by the Englilh were not
immediately reftored, they would fet their
army in motion to recover them.

The complaint of hoftilities was without
foundation. Colonel Keating had, on the
20th of the preceding Oftober, begun his
march toward Surat ; and at the very time
this letter was written, had already reached
its neighbourhood. Yet, notwithftanding
this boafting, the Poonah miniftry were far
from being in a condition to fupport this ar*
rogance ; for by Colonel Keating's intelli-
gence, it appeared that Morabah Furneze *
had embraced the party of Ragobah, that the
minifterial army was reduced to 12,000

^ Firrneze is a title of honour^ it means one In receipt of
t^e revenue.

men*

O F B O M B A Y. 107

men, that they themfelves were in fuch ap-
prehenfion for their fafety , that they had retired
to the fort of PoroUiider, and were afraid to
truft themfelves out of it : and that Rago-
bah*s partizans in Poonah were increafing.

Ragobah himfelf required that Colonel
Upton Ihould, in the firft place, procure
fome diftrifts to be alfigned for the mainte-
Hance of him and his adherents, till the final
conclufionof the peace: that his pretenfions
to the Paifhwalhip fhould be fully difcufled,
by an examination of every thing relating to
the birth of the infant pretended to be the fon
of Naron : that if he (hould prove to be
really fo, then he (hould, as his relation in-
titled him, be regent during his minority ;
and that when he attained his majority, and
the regency was at an end, he (hould have a
pen(ion fufficient to maintain him according
to his rank.

After a tedious and difficult journey Co-
lonel Upton arrived at Poonah, on the 30th
of December 1 775. Though he was at his
arrival received with great civility, yet in a
(hort time he found he had to deal with
people not only inimical, but uncertain ; in-

fomuchy

t

108 A N A C C O U N T

ipmuch, that in the beginning of February he
had no hope of concluding any thing with
them* The detail of what paffed between
him and them from that time to the conclu-
fion cannot be interefting. After many en-
tanglements got over, at laft, on the ift of
March 1776, a treaty was figned at Poroun-
der by Colonel Upton, on the part of the
Company, and Saccaram Bappoo and Balla-
gee Pundit, on that of the infant Pailhwa^
By this it was, in the firft place, mentioned,
that peace between the Company in general,
and the Bombay council in particular, and
the infant Paifhwa and his minifters, Sac-
caram and Ballagee, on the part of the Mah-
rattas ihould be fully eftabliflied. That this
peace on each fide fhould be forthwith pro*
claimed. That the Mahrattas being anxious to
recover Salcet, would in return give the Com-
pany a country producing three lacks of rou-
pies, in the neighbourhood of Broach ; but it
was to be left to the option of the Supreme
Council whether or no to accept this equiva-
lent. The advantages to the Englilh were :

ift. All right to the city and pergunnah
of Broach was to be ceded to the Company
free from all demand whatfoever : they were
to have likewife a country of the yearly pro-
duce

L

O F BOMB AY.

109

duce of three lacks adjoining to Broach, the
bounds whereof ihould be determined by two
perfons for the Company, and two peffbns
for the Mahrattas : and for the expences of
the war, the Englifh ihould: be paid twelve
lacks; fix within fix months, and fix withia
two years.

In return for this, all and every part of
the Guzurat country which had been ceded
by Ragobah to the Englifh (that only fettled
on them by this treaty excepted) was to be
reftored ; and all the country ceded by Futty
Sing to the Company was to be given up to
the Mahrattas, upon their producing proofs
by the letters and funnuds * of the Paifh-
was, that Futty Sing was not authorized to
make fuch a cefiion. Befides,

All treaties made by the Bombay council
with Ragobah were declared to be annulled, as
was alfb thatwith Futty Sing. In confequence
the Englifh troops were immediately to march
within the limits of their prefidency. Ra-
gobah was to difband his army, and all his
adherents but four (who were by name ex-
cepted) >vere to have a full and free pardon j

S«Qau4 Is a graat under feal.

if

MQ AN A C C O U NT

if he rtfokd tor diiSlNiiid^ the £iigli(h were to
give him 00 a£SibiKe, but withdraw from
him ; and in coafidemtion of his diibanding
he was to ha¥e ;a train of a thoufand horfe,
and a pix>pQrtiona] number of foot, which
ihould be paid by the Poonah gov^nment,
as well as two hundred domeilics ; and he
was to receive three lacks of roupies a year,
by monthly payments ; but h^ was to refide
at Coopergiunge, and not change hts refidence
without Hoeow^ from the Paiihwa* The
Engliih were ni3l: to aid or ailift in any maa-
ner, cither Kagobah or any perion difturb-
ing the peace of the Mahratta dominions :
thefe covenantii were to be xiwatual *.

Thefe are the oaaterial articles of this treaty
which was ratified at Bengal, by the refo*
lution of the majority ; the prefidency of
Bombay made vtzy fevere ftrwStures oix it,
which they forwarxicd to Bengal. Ragob^h
looked upon it as his ruin ; the fixiiig of hi^

'^ The advantages to the Company by this treaty were
10 poioi of revenue as fdloweth ;

Saicet '— — — 350,000

. City.aadpergunnab of- Broach 500,000

Country adjoining to Broach 300,000

i^iop^ooo L. itOyOOO

at 2s.

reiidence

•1

OF BOMBAY. m

refidence at Coapeqg^nge he confidered as
2tx imprifonment, and the thoufand horie^
and proportional number of infantry which
were to be paid by the Poonah govern*
ment, as a guard fet upon him, either to
keep him in that prifon, or deliver him
to their paymafters; and he declared, tha(
it was better for him to try his for«-
tunes with the few friends that might re-
main firm to him, than fuhmit to accept
fuch terms. He aflerted, that confiding in.
the proteS;ion of the Englifh nation, he had
rejefted offers made to him by the Nizam :
he deiired that he might make his appeal to
that nation, and in the mean time take fhelter
in Bombay, that his perfbn might be in
fafety.

There was fome reafon for Ragobah to
have entertained > hopes that his conditioa
would have been better than it proved in the
treaty: for not long before the conclufioQ
of it Colonel Upton from feveral untoward
circumfbnces, fuppofed the negotiation to-
tally broken off, and had written his opinion
to the Supreme Council, who, concluding it
really fb, had in oonfequence written tp
BoDoiu^) that they^ might ia that cafe be

prepared

I-

112 A N A C di d U N t

prepared to renew hoftilities, and had alfo
written to Ragobah, promifing In that event
an efFedlual affiftance to reinftate him. They
had befides applied to feveral other priricesf,
Hyder, the Nizam, Modagee BoUncelo, Sin-
dia, and Holcar, to fupport his caufe; if
they declined this, intreating them to remain
neuter. At the fame time they had concerted
meafures with regard to Owde, arid ordered
a brigade to march to the frontiers of Corahj
neareft to the Pafs of Culpy; but all this was
put an end to by the figning of the treaty.

• Another accident which happened about that,
time helped to raife his hopes whilft it ettibar-
rafled the minifters. There was a perfon of
the Paiftiwa race, called Subahi, or Subadahj
the Ion of Chimnagee Oppah and brother of
Badgeerovv, who was reported to have been
killed in a battle near Panniput in ij6i*
A long time after a man appeared at Poonah,
who aflerted he was that identical Subadah
or Subahi : he produced many proofs of that
identity, but the government at that- time
looking upon him as an impoftor, had coin-
fined him in thefortofRutnahGeriah. This
man had now efcaped from thence,' was
joined by feveral" chiefs with fame troops^,

and

OF BOMBAY. 113

find Row Dullop who commanded the Mah-
rttta fleet, * had declared for him ; he claimed
to be regent either fingly or jointly with Ra*
gobah. Thefe circumftances might induce
Ragobah not yet to dilband his troops; a
more fpecious realbn was given ^ that he had
not money to pay them. He followed our
army with them when they marched from
Dubbay ; and now they had moved to the
environs of Surat, it was thought ncceflkry,
with the troops lately under Colonel Keat-
ing s command, to reinforce the garrifbns of
Surat and Broach, left fome accident (hould
happen from fuch a neighbourhood. Whether
this extited a jealoufy that fome thing was
fcheming between the Englifli and Ragobah,
or that the minifters were chagrined at not
Aaving him in their power, they complained
to Colonel Upton, that the Bombay - council
had not reftored the places which were to be
ceded by treaty ; that they had fupplicd Ra-
gobah with military ftores : adding, . that Hy-
der had purfued proper meafures in inforcing
his treaties by arms ; and that if, in thefe
particulars, fatisfadion was not given them
they would carry fire and fword through all
the Company's territories. The Bombay
council denied thefe aflertions ; they faid,

H that

114 AN ACCOUNT

that as to the places ceded, they had fent or-
ders to ^urat and Broach to have the p^r-
guanahs delivered up upon the appearance of
perfons properl/ authorized to receive them ;
that no fuch had appeared; that remon*
Frances had been made Co Ragobah, but his
inability to pay presented hi? diibanding his
forces: that their garrifouing Surat and
Broach was an a£l of neceffity, no way in-
coofiftcijt with peace, fince it prevented ac*
cidents which might happen from the neigh-
bourhood of the troops of either party ; that
they were {o far from plotting to renew the
war, that when the Nizaili had lately of-
fered his afliftance to Ragobah, if the Englifli
would engage not to take part with the
Mahrattas, they had declined giving my
fuch promife. They on their fide com-
plained, that no good efFeds had yet ap«
peared from the treaty, that to the gr^at de-
triment of the English, no conxmunicatioa
or intercourfe was yet permitted with th^
Mahratta donunions ; which prohibition was
(q rigid that no perfons were permitted to
come from the ndghbouring parts to Bom*
bay, even to fell vegetables or other provi-
fions ;* that the Mahratta fleet had taken fix
vefiels coming from Goa under Engliih co-
lours

OF BOMBAY. 1I5

lours which had been feparated by i ftorm
from their convoy, and carried them into
Gheriah ; that they had refufed fending a
Vaqueel to Bombay to explain the reafon of
this behaviour ; that it was not poffible to
execute that part of the treaty which related
to the country ceded by Fiitty Sing, he re-
demaiiding this from Ragobah, upon this
ground, that the conditions of the treaty
ivith him were not performed ; that he de-
nied that the Poonih government had any
right to demand them, or any thing to do
with thefe revenues, all that related thereto
having been fillly fettled in the year 1 7 5 9 »
when a divifion was rhade of the Guzurat.
country between t^ooiiah and the Gwicawars,
I'hus each party ftarted difficulties^ and the
treaty remained without any article of it being
fully carried into execution. A whole year
Was fpent in altercations *lnd mutual com-
plaints^ when the year 1777 opened a new
Icene*

In the beginning of^Afiril a French fhipjir-
tived at Collaby, a place at the entrance into
the river of Choul, which landed feveral
gentlemen, who fending notice of their arrival
to Poonah, had not only leave given them to

H 2 go

ii6 AN ACCOUNT

go thither, but w^re received in great pomp,
there being an efcort ordered of twenty-five
Arab fepoys with an elephant, twenty ca
mels, a palanquin, and fome horfe. The
perfbn who appeared to be chief among thenaj
ftyled himfelf Chevalier de St. Lubin, a mar
already well known in the Englifti fettle
ments in India for his intrigues.

This man, on the 17th of April, was re-
ceived and had long conferences at Poroun-
der. Mr. Moftyn who now refided at Poo-
nah, on behalf of the Englifli remonftratec
againft his admiffion to the Durbar, but h<
was anfwered that his prefent reception was
' in confequence of an application made tw(
years and a half before, and that matters hac
then fo far advanced, that his reception coulc
not be now refufed. The ftiip was brought
up to Choul, where her loading, confifting
of artillery, fire-arms, copper, and cloth, was
landed. St. Lubin affured the Durbar that
two fhips more would foon arrive, for which
he demanded permiffion to v/inter in their
harbours. On the 8th of May he had an
audience of the Paifhwa, in which he pre-
fented credentials from the king of France^

It

•w^

l_

OF BOMBAY. 117

It was much doubted, not only by the
Englifh, but by the French refident in In-
dia, whether St. Lubhi had any commiffion
of the kind he pretended, or was at all au-
thorized : Monf. Belcombe, commandant at
Pondicherry, refufed to acknowledge him as
ambaflador, but the French agent at Surat
anfwered his draughts : the perfons who ac-
companied him fufpefted him. The truth,
from the information of the principal among
thefe who had fallen out with him, and took
refuge with Mr. Moftyn the Englifli refident
at Poonah, appeared to be, that St. Lubin
had jointly with Monf. Dumas, an officer
, of rank in the Canada army laft war, and
governor of the Ifle of France, obtained
Monf. de Sartine's approbation and confent
to a plan they ha,d formed, which was, that
St. Lubin fhould embark at Bourdeaux, on
board a (hip called La Paix, as minifter ple-
nipotentiary in the department of commerce
to the Mahratta court ; Monf. Dumas was
to embark at Breft on L'Indien at the head
of 1500 men, which were to be joined by
1000 to be (hipped on hoard La Paix, the
whole 2500 to be under the command of
Dumas, who was to have the department of
war in the expeditiqn, as Su Lubin had of

H 3 com,-*

m8 an a C G O U NT

commerce, and 500 pore were to be landed
at the lile of France by a private merchant
fhip. Monf. de Sartme adlually viiited the
ports where the (hips lay. St. Lubm, whp
wanted to be at the head of all, by his pri-
vate infinuations prevailed on him (unknown
to Dumas, who then thought him gone to
Lyons to tajce leave of his friends) to conr
fent that he fliould fail in a private fhip frori^
Bourdeaux, that he might prepare all things
for the reception of the force which was to
follow under the command of Dumas ; this
was to join the Mahrattas, after which they
were to flrjke fome great ftroke, St. Lubin
had the powers of infinuation to ^ great:
degree 5 plaufible, affunaing, and ready of
fpeech, he gave what he l^id an air of truth,
yet he was fuperficial, and ever ready- to>
facrifice truth, and every th^ng ^o his in-
tereil^ even to the detriment of his, own na-
tion. By his reprefentations of the mighty
advantages that woylci refult to France ii\
general, and in particular to thofe perlbns
who embarked with him, he carried out
fome gentlemen from Bourdeaux, who foon
after their arrival in India, law they were
the dupes of their credulity, and that thing?
at Poonah were in reality very different from

• what

OF BOMB AY. 119

^at he had reprefented them to be* By the
firft packet he fent to France, which was to
go by Surat, they wrote to their friends
' what they faw : thefe letters he opened, and
from that time became their enemy ; and fb
violent was his perfeeution, that he prevailed
on Nan^Ji to order one of them, Monf. Cor-
celle, to be put to death, after having him-
fclf attempted to kill him : another perlba
was feized by mij8ake, and would have been
thrown under an elephant's feet, had not a
bramin found he was a Dane* The pro-
tcdiion granted to this Monf. Corcelle and
Mr. ,Madget by Mr. Lewis, the then Eng*
Ilfh refident, was made a fubjeft of com-
plaint,' in the bickerings which followed.
For from that time the Englifti refident met
with a treatment, which fully (hewed the ef-
fed of St. Lubin*s negotiations and promifes.

Nanah Furneze, then the ailing perfbn
in the Paifliwa's miniftry, entered into con-
fidence with him on his undertaking to bring
a confiderable military ' force to Poonah,
completely furnifhed with artillery and (lores;
and an alliance was to be concluded between
France and the Mahratta nation. That his
prorai(es might be efte^led, Nanah gave him

H 4 ^^^

120 A N AC COUNT

the free ufe of the port of Choul. At this
time Saccaram and Nanah were the princi-
pal minifters at Poonah ; Saccaram was old
and infirm, and refiding in Porounder, afted
moftly in the care of the perfon of the infant
Palfhwa^ Nanah, about the age of fifty,
aftive and enterprizing, aj(pired to the chief
rule, likely to devolve upon Jiim at the death
of Saccaram.

From the prote6lion he had afforded Mr*
Bolts before the arrival of St. Lubin, and his
connections fince with that minifter, it is
apparent his difpofitions were not favourable
to the Englifli. Another perfon, -who might
be Ipoked on as a minifter at Poonah, was
Morabah, nephew of Nanah, a man of
great influence and ability, and alfo of great
prudence ; till that time avoiding interfer-e
ence in thofe troubled fcenes ; inclined to
Ragobah.

Sindia and Holcar who hold the country
extending from Guzurat to the banks of the
Jumma, originally paid a tribute, but in the
prefent weaknefs of government are grown
independent. A moiety of Guzurat and Sal-
qet, BalTein, and the country of Broach, be-:

longed

O F B O M BAY. iti

Jonged to the Paifhwa family ; the Bouncelo
family poffefs Berar and Nagpoor in perfeft
fovereignty.

The intereft of St. Lubin at Poonah was
an alarming circumftance. It was fo high
with Nanah, that, in order to prevent any
opportunity the EngUfli refident might have
of procuring intelligenee, he prevailed on
him to place guards upon his houfe. This
was not the only infult ; on his complaining
of this treatment, he was anfwered, that all
Europeans ihould leave Poonah ; that if the
Englifh defired to have an agent there, a Car-
coon (that is an mferior perfbn) would an-
fwer the purpofe, and Nanah exprefsly de-
fired he would inform the Bombay prefidency
of this. This meflage was highly relented
by them, and a difavowal of it infifted on,
but in vain ; on the contrary, the reftraint
was increafed.

Other circumftances concurred to fhew
jthat fome fchemes againft the Englifh were
forming. The French agents and chiefs were
bufy every where. General Belcombe had a
fixty-four gun (hip ready, in which he was
to be carried tq the coaft of Malabar, with

a com-

12% A N A C C O U N T

a company cf Europeans, a large . fuite, and
ibme arms ; Mabi was the place named, and
it was given out he was only going to vifit
that fettlement ; but the real view was to
bring to maturity the plans formed between
St. Lubin and Nanah ; this appeared fully
by the proceedings which followed.

The diflenfions among the minifters at
Poonah were now confiderable, Mr, Moftyn,
the Engl)(h refident there, had for fome time
perceived the feeds of a revolution. On the
loth of December 1777, the council of
Bombay received advice that Saccaram, Mo-
rabah, Butchaba a man of confiderable hi-
fluehce, together with Holcar, had confe-
derated to remove Nanah from his employ-
ment, and reftore Ragobah, provided the
council of Bombay would jom them, and
with a military efcort conduct him to Poo-
nah. That each of thefe chiefs, had the com-
mand of 1 0,000 horfe, and that Sindia, who
was then abfent at the diftance of fixty leagues
from Poonah, was fuppofed to be in the
lame intereft. At this time Furkia, the
coijimander of the Mahratta forces for the
minifters, was oil the borders of the Carna-
tic, where he had invaded Hyder Ally, who

iu.

OF BOMBAY. 123

in two engagem^its had totally defeated him.
And Raja Ram, the nominal fovereign of
the Mahratta empire, died the beginning gf
January,

The council of Bombay thought great ad*-
vantage in the prefent circumftance might be
ireaped from this confederacy ; but is by th«>
treaty pf Porounder Ragobah'was totally ex«-
icluded^it ^as judged proper that Saccaran^^whb
was the prinpipal ador in that treaty, fhould.
Jointly with the ptber confederates, fend the
prppofal in writing and vender feal ; this dooe,
they prpmifed the concurrence defired. The
1 2 th of December they advertized the Su-?
preme Coymcil of the wholp matter. The
governor general looked upon this as a fa-
vourable oppprtunity of cpuritera£ting the
pperations of St. Lubiq, and therefore pro-
ppfed upon thoie conditions to authorise the
Bombay council tp ponclude fuch an agree-
ment, and promife them affiftance in men
and money; the refolution pafled, and ten
lacks of roupies iq bills were immediately
forwarded to Bombay ; and that council was
exprefsly enjoined to adhere to the requifition
that Saccj^rana aiid the other perfons (hould
fend the propofal under their feals and figna-

tures,

124 A N A C C O U N T

tures, and by no means to a£t, unlefs that
condition was complied with* This was done
in February 1778.

As it was judged that the council of jBom-
bay were not of ftrength fufficient fingly to
carry {o great a deiign into execution, nor to
withftand the effe(5l of St. Lubin's intrigues,
fhould they fucceed fo far as to introduce a
French army into the Mahratta ftate, it was
thought prudent to have a force at hand
ready to adt as occafion (hourd require. The
country between the Ganges and Bombay
and Poonah was now well known, and no
more thought impaffable for an army ; the
governor general^ therefore propofed to fend
a detachment under Colonel Leflie, an of-
ficer of ability, through the inland country
towards Bombay, which might be at hand
tp a£l as occafion fhould require. It qon-
fifled of fi.^ battalions of fepoys and one
company of native artillery, which werq
to be joined by a regiment of cavalry and a
body of horfe from the province qf Owde ;
thefe were all to aflemble at Kulpee, near the
Jumna, and from thence proceed, through
the countries of B.ooj:idelchiind qnd B.erar, XQr
wards !13orphay,

Qn

O F B O M BAY. 125-

«

Colonel Leflie had lerved in the late war
under General Wolfe, and by. his zeal and
aftivity had fo far recommended himfelf to
the favour of that fuperior judge of military
merit, that he was among the few diftin-
guiflied friends to whom the general had by
his will given honourable tokens of his re-
gard. This reputation he had fupported la
the courfe of his fervice in India, he had
particularly diftinguiftied himfelf in the Ro-
hilla war by a judicious attention and unre-
mitting exertion in the duty of quarter-
mafter-general, though part of the time la-
bouring with the gout. His inftru<flions were,
" To proceed by the moft prafticable route
to Bombay, or fuch other parts as he fliould
be direfted to by the committee of that pre-*
fidency ; he was to prefer the route through
the Boondelchund country and province of
Berar, but if refufed by that Rajah, not to
perfift, but according to his judgment and
the refult of his enquiries vary his route,
making it his fir ft care to reconcile the chiefs
to his paffage through their countries, but at
all events to profecute his march, from the
beginning of which he was to obey fuch
orders from Bombay as were not contrary to
the tenor of his inftrudions. He was ad-
vifed of the feveral letters written to the

chiefs,

i.

ri6 A n A ceo U N T

chiefs, and particularly the Rajah of ienf^
to procure pafiports and- fuppKes of provi-
fions ; afld it was recommended to Htm to
cultivate a good underftlaiiditig^ with them^
particularly the latter ; he w&s authorifed to
life every expedient neccflary for the fefety
and fupply of the detachment without in-
fringing the peace fubfifting with the Mah-*
ratta ftate, and to adhere t^ the treaty of
Porounder: the ftriiSteft order and difcipltne
. was recommended/ and every attention to
prefer ve. any pofllble' imputation of blame,
nor was he to a£l o^nfively, even at tlie re*
quifition of the Bombay Council, unle6 they
ihould decfere that there was adually a war,
and he was to advertife them as frequently
as poffible of his progrefs.'*

Thefe inftru^oDs correfponded with thofc
given to Mr. Alexander Elliot^, who for
his talents in negotiation, was unanimoufly
chofen an Ambaflador to the Rajah of Berar,
with whom the governor general had long
kept a correfpondence.

* Mr. Elliot vas brother to the prcfent Sir Gilbert Et»
liot^ and was a yooog maa of furpriziog kaowl^dge, abi-
lity, and diligeace ; unfortunately for the Company and
his country, he- died before he could execute his com-
Biiffion*

OF BOMBAY. 127

The revonues of this Raja amount to one
hundred and fifty lacks yearly, and he is at
the head of 30,000 horfe*

Modagee, rdated by blood to the Rajas of
Poonah, had been adopted by Sahoo the pre-
deoeiibr of Ram Raja, and looked to the fo-**
verdgnty of this Mahratta ftate at the death
of Sahoo; but Ballagee, then Paiftiwa, de-
feated this fucceiiion, and raifed Ram to the
throne : Ragogee, the father of Modagee, to
affart his fon*s right, marched with a confidef-
able force to Poonah ; but the Paifhwa found
means to appeafe him by conceflions of great
vabe ; f hp moft confidcrable was the inde-
pendence of all the Bouncelo poflfeffions. In
the year i 773 Shabagee, one of the fons of
Ragogee, being then chief of Berar, had fent
a Vaqueel to Calcutta with an offer of al-
liance. Mr. Haftings, then prefident of that
government, propofed conditions limilar to

thofe which had been granted to Skijah DoU"-

lah the Nabob of Owde. Sliabagee being
flain, this negociation dropped, and the change
of gpverfiqtient at Calcutta, by the forming
of the Supreme Council, deftroyed the pro-
bability of renewing it ; yet the Vaqueel was
by Mr. Haflings kept fome time in hopes

that

128 AN ACCOUNT*

that there yet might offer an oppprtunify^
of doing it with efFed, but he had lately
lent him home. , Modagee, when fettled,
fent him back to Calcutta with a tender of a
-friendly alliance; and Mr* Haftings^ fore-
feeing that the troubles in the Weft of India
might draw the Englifh to take fome part in
them, looked on this as a circumftanee which
might in Ibme event prove a fortunate connec-
tion. On the determination offending Colonel
Leflie's detachment, he wrote to Modagee^
defiring a paflage through his country. The
anfwer was moft friendly ; he not only con-
fented, but promifed to fend to the banks of
the Nerbuddah a quantity of grain and other
iieceffaries for the Englifh army, and a body
of horfe to efcort them through his territory;
and added, that*he had written letters to Co-
lonel Leflie to advife him of this. The elcort
and ftores were accordingly fent.

The fituafinfi of afl&irs cnnvincfed the gOf-«

vernor general more and more of the necef*
fity of having fome refburce to counterba-*-
lance this intereft of the French ; it could
not be doubted but that if matters in Europe
proceeded to a war, the flames of it muft
J^read to India, and the nation which found

itfelf

i

OF BOMBAY. ttg

it(elf flrongeft and faeft prepared would flrike
fome flroke agamft the other. Bombay and
the poilefiions of the Engliih in that quarter
were the parts mofi: liable to an attack ; the
directors had warned the Supreme Council of
this ; every circumftance warranted their con-
jefture. Thefc conjedures were but too well
founded ; and fortunately the governor ge«
neral had fomething yet ftronger to decide
hiip» Mr. Elliot 9 in his return from Eng-
land to India, had pafied through Paris, where
he had the opportunity of learning the real
fituation of things from perfbns thoroughly
inftru£led ; he was fully informed of thoife
fteps which inevitably muft bring on a war.
He knew the whole progrefs of them ; this
he communicated to the governor general,
who by this means faw his conjectures be-
come a certainty*

This made him turn his thoughts ill 11
more ftrongly to Berar, and he refolved to
make an alliance with the Raja Modagee,
at leaft defenfive ; but which might, accord-
ing to the occafions furniftied by events, be
improved to an ofFenfive one. It was for
this purpofe that Mr, Elliot was chofen to

I go

J30 A N A C C O UN T

go to the Durbar of Modagee; his inftruc-
tions were to the effed foUoM^g :

ye was to form his judgment on the ac-
tual ftate of that government, the intelligence
he Ihould receive from the neighbouring
Aates, and particularly the advices from Bom-
bay, and regulate his proceedings accord-
ingly; and as in the feveral matters he
might treat of, fome were in their nature
fuch, that what was ftipulated muft be per-
manent, he was not to conclude any articles
concerning thefe without having communi-
cated them to and received the approbation
of the Supreme Council ; but thole where
the provifions were only temporary and re-
quired immediate decifion, he might conclude
without fuch reference.

That as the primary intention was a per-
petual defenfive alliance, to have mutual in-
terefts and reciprocal confidence muft there-
fore be the ground- work : on thefe principles
he fhould ftipulate,

. I. That a mutual friendfhip fliould be
eftablifhed between the two govern-
ments ;

r

OF BOMBAY. 131

ments ; that the friends of one ftiould
be the friends of the other, and the ene-
mies of one the enemies of the other*

2. That a certain number of troops fliou Id
be kept up within our frontier in the
neareft and moft convenient fituation to
his dominions ; that a monthly fubfidy
proportionable to the expence ihould be
paid by him. — ^This article was to con-
tain a power to alter the numbers, or
even decline or withdraw the whole,

3. That on his part a body of cavalry
(hould be kept up for the fervice of the
government of Bengal, who (hould not
be the native militia accuftomed to
plunder, but regular troops; that the
pay of thefe (hould be only when em-
ployed — This article was not to be in-
difpenfable.

Such were his inftru6lions as to the ar-
ticles upon matters permanent in their na-
ture; as to others which were temporary and
required decifion and immediate aftivity, the
grounds on which he was to regulate his con-
duct, were as follow :

Iz The

I

.132 AN ACCOUNT.

The refidence of St. Lubin at Poonah, and
the intereft he had cultivated with the mi-
iiifters, made it likely that fome ftroke
might be expefted from thence, and as the
probability was now that war exifted between
the French and Englifh, Bombay muft have
been the firft to feel the efFedls of it. De-
iigns yet greater might be in agitation, and
an attack upon Bengal from the internal parts
of India, with the afliiftance of the Mah-
ratta force, was to be apprehended. The
Bombay prelidcncy were authorized to aflift
in carrying on the plan communicated to
them in December laft of excluding Nanah
from the government, and reftoring Rago-
bah ; the detachment fent under the com-
mand of Colonel Leflie was formed to fecond
thefe endeavours; but the undertaking had
failed in the principal part; the change
among the minifters was effected, but Rago-
bah not reftored. Thus deprived of the re-
fource hoped for in the friendfliip of Ra-
gobah, and aiming at obftrufting the French
intereft and counterading their Ichemes, and
it being dangerous without the fupport of a
powerful alliance for the detachment to pro-
ceed on its firft deftination, it muft have
been a moft defirable thing to have a mutual

intereft

O F B O M B A Y. 133

intereft, and to join our forces with thofe of
Modagee. This was founded on very good
reafons ; his dominions lie between thofe of
the government of Bengal and the country de-
pendent on the Paifhwa, and border on them
and the country of the Nizam. There muft
exift a natural . jealoufy between his family
and the government of Poonah : their ani*
molity had been increafed by many reciprocal
afts of violence. Modagee had ftrong pre-
tentions to the fucceflion of the Raja Ram :
he had a natural enemy in the Nizana. The
fituation of all affairs in thofe parts was there-
fore in the firft place to be learned.

If the council of Bombay had not entered
into new engagements with Ragobah or
with the party governing at Poonah which
clalhed with the following in ft millions, and
that a, French force was at Poonah, or that
Mr. St. Lubin was iiill there, or that no cir-
cumftance offered to contradict what was al-
ready known on that head, a dired union
with Modagee for carrying on a war againft
the Mahrattas at Poonah, was to be offered :
in all this great difcretion muft be ufed ;
the principal aim being to defeat the French
combination, to prevent their receiving af-

,13 fiftancc

134 ANA G C OU NT

liftahce in their attack upon Bombay, and to
eftabli(h a connexion between the Englifh
and the Mahratta ftate, to infure their lup-
poit agaihfl: the French, or any other nation
with whom the EiigHfh might be ^t war.

The negotiation therefore was to be fu-
fpendcd until through the information of the
Bombay Council, or of JMV. Moftyn the re-
fident &t Poonah, the nature of their engage-
ments fiiould be fully known ; there muft
be an entire conformity to their meafures;-
no offenfive plan whatfoever muft be adopted
which could in any manner coiintei-atS them ;'
a defenfive one was, and ever to be, the main
obje£i. , ' ' ...

The Raja of Berar is a fovereign and in-
dependent power. If the French intereft with
the Poonah government was diffolved, and
no hoftile intention againfl: the Gompimy fub-
fiifted, the treaty concluded at Porounder with
the Paiftiwa Narrein remained in full force;
and no engagement contrary to it niuft be
entered into : but this treaty was not contra-
<^i(3:ed by a defenfive alliance with Berar, nor
even by an offenfive 6ne which regarded other
powers : nor by the precaution of a ftationary .

force

^'rm

pj ^aMB A-y. ,35

forcQ on the ftgntj^. Jn retupi, Modagee
might expeft Jrom the Conjapahy t6;'bc af-
fifted in aflerting his right to the JRajafliip, '
and in recovering the places concjuered from
his faniily by the Nizam j the latter being
foreign to our purpofe therefore nothing
was to be concluded on that head unlefs an
abiblme nqcefl^ty of it was apparent ; and
thenth^ ftipul^tion muft have been cpnfined
to the places taken by him fince the death of
Janncgee.

. If the ' J^iajjjm h?d joined the French or
their ^liea at JPQOpah> t^^n the tejrms pro-
pofed by Modagee were to be lifteried to. If
Xhji pfQf|)e<9: in the fucc|BffiQU to the Raja-
(ihip was fair and grpbable, it ,WQuJ.d be right
to tfe^t upon * that ,paatter ; our eqd in it
-would be>anfwf red by fhe exclufion of French
inflyenfie ; the, pf^iy?: advantage,, o^ his fide
intitjifid ws to dea^/ind ; fome retuj;n ; as the
full ijeirpburi^ent of my charges the Com-*
pany fhoyljd be put to, the confirmation of
aH the ceffions made to the Bonabay council
by Rpgobah and Pv^ty Sing, and to the Su-
prenje Council of ^£(eiig?^l by the treaty of .

Porqunder ; in th^fe matters the council of j

I 4 ] Bombay

I

136 AN ACCOUNT

Bombay muft guide. *Nb territory on the
Bengal fide of India was iiefirfed. • ' ♦

Notice to be fent to the council of Bombay
and to Colonel Leflie of what fhould be con*'^
eluded.

J a

He was to take fpecial . care that no part
ihould be taken in the difturbances annoying
the Boiincelo family. ' *'

Whatever agreements fhould be entered
into, were not to be reftrained to the perfon of
Modig^Se, but bxtend to his lucceflors.

Thefe'inftrudions ihew the appreh^nfion
of the danger, and 'what remedy was coiiceived
to be the moft efficacious. There was nb
jiecelHty of changing the fituiation-of - the de^
tachment from the Bengal fide of thfc Ner-
budda, or altering its deftination, till the
ftate df affairs was fully known. It was St
hand to aft according to the ^:neafiires which
IKouid be concerted with Modagee; ^ If the
firft fcheme failed, it was *i<eady for the fe-
cond ; if ^ they" both failed, it was nea* out
frontier. When once the hews of a> war
with France Ihould arrive, it muft decide
what meafures were abfolutely neceflary. At

all

.J

OF BOMBAY. 137

all events that influence in the Mahratta ftate
was to be deftroyed ; for if once St. Lubin
could bring troops and ftores to Poonah, what-
ever party he efpoufed muft command obe-
dience ; and in that cafe Bombay would not
be the only objeft, the province of Owde
muft be the fcene of ravage, and probably
they might extend their views fb far as to
dilpute the pofleflSon of Bengal *.

Small is the dependence which in thole
cafes could be had on Bombay. Some other
refoiirce mufl be found : Modagee, by his

* The fdlowioginciciknt (hews how juft were thefe ap-
preheniiQos. Mr. Elliot in his joarney overtook Monf«
Chevalier, chief of Chandernagore, at Cuttack on his way
to Poonahy and prevailed on the Naib to aflift in fdzing
bim. Among his papers was fonnd a letter from General
Belcombe, dated Pondicherry, 12 July 1778, relating to
the fitnation of affairs between the Englifli and French na-
tioo$, .to which was this remarkable poftfcript :

^' It would' be proper for me to wprize the Mahnittas
" at Cuttack and Berar of the difpontion of the EngKfli
^' refpedting a war, which appears to be inevitable;: and
^* that I (bouid write to thofe at Poon^, that this is. the
^' moment to -unite, in order to cruQi that ambitious aa-
" tioD, who hath already met with confiderable lodes in
*- America, which they feek to repair by fubjedling all the
" princes of India/,*

Other letters intcixepted by the Bombay council (hewed
the reality of .the French. deiigns> and bow muqh they at
that time exerted their whole powers to bring them to
maturity. . !

iituatioHy

L

t^B A ^N' /-ACCOUNT

fituatioQ, by hia intereils, and by his inqH^
lutiQHs, was the moft probable one.

The advantages arifing from this fchem^
muft be great. A body of troops kept on
ow frontier in the manner propofed, increafes
our force without any expence to us. The
JBerar Qfiv^lry ij5 the heft in India: the fta*-
tion of the. troops muA caufe a conpourfe of
people in thofe parts, which may bring into
«u»)tivation that region, now negle^ed, tl^ough
%hfi ibil is good aii^ capable of fertility* An
inland communication with l^o^h^y and Map
dras will be opened, and a barrier will be
ibrmed on that 6de of our poH^iions.

But a yet gjreater advantage follows this
ftation : Nangpoor * is the center of the pen-
iflfula; the army may thoftce qonveijiieat-
ly reach the dominions of the furrounding
princes, and a£t either fojr their defence or to
their annoyance. They muft behold our
power and the poffeffions ceded to us with
jealoufy, which, our European ^uemy is
watchful to improve. The lofs cf the north-
ern circars muft affedl the Ni2;ara : he was
then in league with the French and thePoo**

* The capital of Bcrar.

nah

OF B O M B A If. 139

nah miniftry; his brother Bazalet JuDg, who
had for his life the pof&ffion of the circar of
<5ontour, between the territory of the Na-
bob of Arcot ziA that of Maxulipatam, had
at this hour five hundred French in his fcr**
vice, which all the reprefentations and en-
deavours of the council of Madras had proved
iriefiedlual to remove from that country. No
emplacement of our troops could be lb for-
midable to thofe piinces as that near Berar,
The bare inlpedtion of the map of Ii?dia
feews the importance of the fituation of that
f ovince in regard to the ti^ree great powers
who hound our poflefSons* The prince of
Berar is our. natural ally; he hath tio inter*
courfe with France : the firft ftep of the Poo-
nah alliance rnuft haye been an invafion of
his territory to force him to l6nd his afliftance
to their at ta<-k of BengaL *

The tr^e of this province is another very
material artidle : it produces the beft cotton
in India, which is fpun into fine thread, and
exported in thtt ftate to the dominions of the
Company;^ Thfe duties are at prefent high ;
but even uiider this difadvantage thefe manu*
features yield thegreateft prdflt of any brought
from India. The DutcH, befides (pices, fend

great

I40 AN ACCOUNT

great quantities of copper into Berar ; this
article may be turned in our favour. The
climate fbme months in the year is compara-
tively cold ; this may produce a demand for
woollens. Many other advantages .there may
be which commerce itfelf will bring forth.

Another revolution in the Poonah mini-
ftry demonftrated the afcendency of French
influence > On the afthof Auguft letters
were received at Calcutta from Bombay, men*
tioning that Nanah had recovered his rank
and influence, upon whiqh Morabah had ap-
plied to them for imniediate afliftance to con-
dud): Ragobah to Poonah, fending articles fub-
fcribed by him and Butchabah'^ Holcar
agreeing to this by a feparate paper under his
hand, that they approved of the propofal,
but had deferred acting Ln confequence to the
month of September, that they might in the
mean time be authorized by, the Supreme
Council, or receive direftions from London.
The ^nfw.er authorized them to proceed, pro-
vided what they fhpuld undertake did not
endanger their fafety, or prove contrary to
any . engagements which Mr. Elliot might
have entered into with Modag^e. This an-

{wcx was tranfoiitted thrpugh hin)| who was

at

OF BOMBAY. 141

at the fame t.me to let them know the ftate
of the negotiation. Thus by the mutual
correfpondence which muft arile from the
obfervation of his inftruftions with regard to
that prefidency, it was probable that on ei-
ther fide nothing could be done but what was
beft adapted to the ftate of affairs in the Weft
of India.

•
Before the detachment marched the go-
vernor general, to prevent any danger which
might happen by Bengal being left open to
a French invafion, had taken the following
precautions : a naval force was priepared ;
two ftiips of forty guns each had already
joined Sir Edward Vernon, and there re-
mained in the mouth of the Ganges two fri-
gates and three cruifers, under the command
of an excellent officer*, which, joined to
what was already in that region, muft keep off
any armament of our enemies, and cleanfe,
that fea from pirates which annually infeft it :
and a fupply of troops in the room of that .
detachment was provided. The army was
augmented with nine battalions of fepoys :
the companies had before been augmented to
eighty rank and file : thele might upon oc-

* Captain John Richardfon ivho had ferved with credit
ia the late war.

cafion

L

Ua AN ACCOUNT

cafion be formed into four battalions of (even
hundred men each. The artillery was aug-
mented with two companies of Europeans,
and four battalions of native artillery- men;
thefe, with fomq addition, are compofed of
I^fcars, who have now the advantage of dif-
cipline given to their former laborious du-
ties ; befides this, the militia, amounting to
one thoufand men, was embodied. This,
with the alliance at Berar, muft fufBciently
fecure Bengal by land : and there is no pro-
bability of fuccefs to an invafion of it by
fea ; for the ificionveniefncies are too many
and too conliderable : the feafon of fettiug
out ; the feafon of arrival ; the number of
troops neceflary ; the quantity of ftores and
ammunition of all Kinds; the number of
Ihips. of war and tranfports ; the length of
fuch an embarrafled voyage ; the chance ot
lofs by {icknefs and death ; on the landing
the want of cattle, artificers, and coqJies ; all
theie militate againft fuch an undertaking.
The true way of invading Bengal is through
the provinces, by alliances with the powers
of the country ; the Mahrattas are the only
power to ferve this purpole, and a firm efta-
blifhed friendlhip with Berar the moft effec-
tualy way of preventing theeffefts of fuch an

alliaftce. On the other hand, every thing

' cal)s

OF BOMBAY. 143

calls them to Bombay^ the neighbourhood of
the MahrattaS) and the convenience of the
port of Choul, are advantages not to be met
with in other parts of India.

Whilft thefe things paffed in Calcutta,
the proceedings at Bombay were, by the
fluduations at Poonah, rendered variable^ and
could not anfwer the warmth with which
they at firft fet out. On the 19 th of January
1778, they received advice that an agreement
had been (igned at Poonah between the mi-
nifters and St. Lubin, by which the French
were to have RowDunda or Choul, that they
might the better carry in their troops and
artillery. Upon this they refolved that no-
thing but a change in the adminiftration at
Poonah could fecure the Company from the
dangers and bad confequences of the alliance
between the French and Mahrattas; and that
there was no method of averting the evil im-
pending, but by the Company taking a decifive
part. They communicated this to the Su-
preme Council, who approved it ; and re-
commended to them to obtain the following
conditions :

1. The perfonal fafety of Ragobah.

2. That;

144 A N A C C O U N T

2. That a fpecific fum be ftipulatfed fot
the military charges incurred by thia
interpofition*

3. That Baffein and its diftridt .be ceded
in perpetuity to the Company.

4/ An additional grant of territory adjacent
to Baflein and Bombay, in exchange for
Broach, the lands ceded by Futty Sing^
and the Pergunnahs of Hanfood, Afli-
mood, and Derborah.

5. That fio European fettlement (hall be
allowed in the Mahratta dominions,
without the confent of the Supreme
Council ; but this to be only extended to
the enemies of Britain.

6. That a fupply of ten lacks of roijpies be
immediately granted to the prefidency
of Bombay for the fuppojrt of their en-
gagements.

And at the fame time, that they might be
prepared for all events, requefted the prefidency
of Madras to have two hundred Europeans,
half a company of artillery, and a battalion of

fepoys

I

O F B O M B A Y. 145

fepoys ready to march to Anjengp, thence to
be tranlported to Bombay, if required

Saccaram was backward in putting his
name to this inftrument, though he aded
privately with the confederates. Morabah
would have taken the whole upon himfelf^
and engaged, that if the Engliih and he un-
derftood each other, he would fettle the go-
vernment in a month's time ; but the Board
infifted ; and this kept back the conclufion
of a treaty between them.

The difpofit ions of the leveral powers of
the Mahrattas and their armies in January
1778, were as follows : Modagee Bouncelo
was at I,^acanwady Gaut, thirty cofs eaftward
of Aurengabad; Hokar was at his own vil-
lage Banbgam, with 12,000 horfe, and five
or fix thoufand Praeds *, refufing any corre-
fpondence with Nanah. Sindia endeavour-
ing to raife contributions on Janogee Patan-
cars jaghire, near Rimetpore, had occafioned
a fkirmifh, in which Janogee was killed.
Furkia had been again defeated by Hyder,
and retreated to Panchmacli, a place belong-.
ing to the Nizam, on the north bank of the
Kriftnn, in hopes of receiving afliflance from

* Foot foldiers and (lingers.

K Downfa,

I

146 A N A C C O U N T

Downfa, one of Nizam's generals, who was
encamped about twelve cofs from him. Hy-
der Ally, in purfuit of him had crofl'ed ta
the nojrth of Jongebodra. The Nizam, though
ftrohgly Iblicited to join the Poonah force
againft him, refufed, unlefs the forts ofA-fliur
and Armadanagur, formerly promifed, were
delivered to him. Furkia was loon after yet
more unfortunate ; for Badgee Punt Burwa,
joined by feveral other Mahratta chiefs, at-
tacked and routed his army,- taking three
elephants, his cannoh, and plundering his
Buzar*, he efcaping only with five hundred
horfe. Thefe different events, and particu-
larly the laft, were fatal to Nanah : his re-
fource was to go to Porounder, in hopes, by
the means of Saccaram, to perfuade Sindia
to go to the affiftance of Furkia ; who, far
from receiving affiftance from Downfa, had
been by -him defired to remove, from Panch*
mach, and had retreated to Serapore tweiity
Cofs north of Kriftna: his fcattere.d army
there joined him, and he foon again ap-
proached to Downla, ftill retaining hopes of
affiftance, notwithftanding his inclinations
rauft have been againft him, as he had a
daughter contrafted to Tippoo Sahed the fon

* Buzar or Bazar> a market.

of

OP BOMBAY,- 147

of Hyder *• But thefe hopes were kept up
by his knowing that a Vaqueel from the Ni-
zam had been fent to Poonah* The refult
of Nanah's conference with Saccaram was
a lefolution to endeavour by all means to
procure the afliAance of Holcar and Sindia
to Furkia, and to fend him money and
3000 men* Shortly after, in the month of
March, he was again furprized, and his
whole force was reduced to 3000, with
whom he retresUied along the Kriftna towards
Meritz*

Thus the whole of the Mahratta ftate was a
fcene of cgnfufion : each chief folely intent
upon his private concerns, watching to ad*
vaqce his own intere^ls as occaiion fhould
oiFer, and all in continual dtilruft of each
other. Through all this chaos the party
^ainft Nanah continued their fcheme of
changing th^ government, and their inter-
courfe with Mn Moftyn ; but Saccaram ftill
delayed his fignature to the requeft of affift-
ance from Bombay. At laft Mr. Moflyn
was aiTured by the confederates, that on the

* Whether this alliance or other caufes made him the
otyeft of the Nizam's fupidoos^ he was within a (hort
time after taken o&

K Z 22d

i:^8 A N A eCO U NT

Z2d of March Morabah,.But^haba, and Hol-
car would more, that iii five or fix days
they would appear on Porounder plain with
25,006 men ; that Saccaram waited for that
event fully to declare himfelf, and would
give Mr. Moftyn entire fatisfaftion ; that
they fhould feize' and imprifon Nanah ; that
Morabah would write to the prefident, and
alfo to Ragobah, which letters fliould be ac-
companied with the Bui Bundar, which is
an oath of fidelity; that Holcar would alfb
write to Ragobah.

On the 26th about noon Morabah and
forne other chiefs encamped on the oppofite
fide oT the river with 10,000 horfe, A de-
tachment of fifty horfe entered Poonah,
tweiity-five of which marched to the pa^lace,
the pthers patrolled the ftreets, diredling the
inhabitants in Ragobah's name, to keep quiet-
ly to their occupations, and promifing lafety^
for perfon and efFefts to thofe who fhould do
fo^. An hour after Morabah arrived and went
direiStlyto the palace, where, paying his re-
fpeds to Perwetty Bah *, he received from

her

* Perwetty Bah was the wife of Subackh, wh(0 hsTS
beco confined with the widow of Naron ia the fort of P6-

t . roynder.

ji

r

OF BOMB AY. 149

her the fjrpaw of Duan *, he begaa by
placing his own people in the room of thofe
who were the guard, whom he difmifled :
the houfe of the Duan who had been ap-
pointed by Nanah had fome 6f thgfe new
guards placed upon it. He then publickly
received the compliments due to hi^ ftation,
after which he returned to his tents on the
other fide of the river, where he was to meet
Holcar, who had advanced to the diftance
of three cofs ; Saccararti lay diftant about fix
cofs. They were all to join in the morn-
ing, when their whole force would amount
to 30,000, and rnarch to Porounder, whence
they were to fend a perfon of confequence to
Bombay, who (liould attend Ragobah to
Poonah. On the 30 th of March an agent
arrived at Bombay, fent by them, who in
their name defired that no tiriie {hould be
loft in fending Ragobah to Poonah ; but no
particular propofals were mentioned. The
Bombay council, iri fo turbid an appearance,
could not. determine what direftion to give /
minifter at Poonah ; they left his conduct there

rounder, aftd after the death of Naron's widow, had th«
care of the infant Pai(hwa. It 4s not eafy to conceive how
(he came to be fo intrufted.
^ Duan h treafiirer, and principal minifter.

K ^ to

'*.^^

./

150 AN ACCOUNT

to his own difcretion, and his regard for the
ititerefts of the Company : but at the fanic
time that they might be ready to profit by
any events favorable, and which led to de-
cifion, they determined to prepare three hun-
dred Englilh infantry, two companies of ar-
tillery lafcars, with a iuitable field train.
Colonel Egerton was to command this body,
next in command to him was Colonel Cock-
burn»

The afpeft of affairs at Poonah now pro-
mifed the eftablifhment of Ragobah. On the
28 th of Marcih Nanah was at the foot of the
hill of Porounder with 5000 men. All his
endeavours to encreafe this force were vain ;
he was therefore compelled to fubmit to ac-
cept conditions from the party of Saccarara
and Morabah ; he agreed to accept an infe-
rior office. Saccaram and Morabah were to
be guarantees for his life and treafures. In
this agreement no mention was made of Ra-
gobah. The eflfedt of this union was that
Nanah's political fyftem gained ground : Mr*
Moftyn found that Morabah was not willing
to abandon Baflein; and he wrote to the
council, that Ragobah muft not depend oa
a force to receive him there, that it could

be

O F B O M B A Y- 151

be had only from Bombay, and ihould con*
fift of at kaft two battalions, with a fuitabk
train of artillery.

Ragobah, on the other hand, giving full
fcope to his hopes, and (hutting his eyes to
all difficulties, was extremely prefling for
his departure. The council remonftrated
againft this impatience, infifting that it was
not proper to move, until a regular invi-
tation, fuch as had at firft been promifed,
fhould have come from Poonah, To this he
anfwered, that his appearance would bring
matters to a conclufion ; that for want of it
his partifans Would imagine that the Englifh
were backward in his caufe, which muft di-
ipirit them, and might tempt them to make
terms with his enemies ; that this \Vas a
criiis not to be neglefted; th^t, added to A-
fbme force which he had at Cufeva oppc^fite ^
Tanna, the troops that could be furni(hed
from Bombay were fully fufficient to com-
plete his re-eftablifliment. He aflented to
confirm the treaty of Surat, and exprefl'ed
his wiflies to enter into an allianpe ofFenfive
and defenfive, which (hould be bound by the
ftrongeft ties : he promifed to grant Pergun-'
nahs contiguous to Bombay, for a fecurity of

. K 4 pay-

152 ANA ceo U N T

payment of the troops. At the fame time
he deiired that the Britifh commander fhould
have orders from the council, not to inter-
meddle with his government ; and he inti-
mated that all the grants of territory yielded
by his enemies to the Nizam and other pow^
ers fhould be refumed.

The Mahratta chiefs flill continued in
their encampments. Mr. Moflyn, on the
I oth of April was requefled by a particular
letter from the Durbar, fealed with the great
leal, to go to that near Currich, where he was
met by Morabah, who told him that Gopal
Naique Tumbackar (who was the brother of
Butchaba) was to be fent immediately to
Poonah, and requefted him to meet them
zt Nanah's camp near Porounder hill, where
^ they wer^ then going He acquiefced, and
"^ was receivcMwith due ceremony, and marks
of regard in a public tent, and introduced to
the Durbar, where were prefect Saccaram,
Morabah, Nanah, Butchaba, and feveral
other chiefs, particularly Gopal Naigue Tuni-
backer. Great civilities were fh^wn him ;
but a final fettlement with the'Qpmpany was
put off to Ragobah's arrival. Saccaram re*
quefled that Mr. Mqflyn would agcompaiiy

- - th^

L

L

OF BOMB AY. 153

the perfon they were to fend to Bombay;
ahd upon his enquiring into the Aate of the
French alliance, he was anfwered, that they
had then under confideration the immediate
difmiflioii of St. Lubin. The next day Turn-
backer told him that on the morrow he was
to fet out ; that a Durbar would be held for
that purpofe ; that after calling at Poonah,
he would proceed to Tanna. . On the 1 6th
Mr, Moftyn had another conference with the
chiefs, who requefted that he would affure
Ragobah of their good intentions, and that
they intreated him not to be induced by any
reports to believe the contrary. Mr. Moftyn
then took leave of Morabah. Notwithftand-
ing thofe fair appearances things were far
from being in a profperous way : unaccount-
able remoras to Tumbackers journey appeared
from day to day upon frivolous pretences, the
principal of which were that fonie parti-
cular flipulations were to be made with Ro-
gobah, and fome objefitioris that he made to
the perfon of Tumbacker, whom he exprefsly
defired not to be fent on this deputation to
him, were to be anfwered and got over.
Neither did matters go on fmoothly at Bom-
bay : that council had received notice from
Bengal of the intended ijiarch of the detach-
ment,

b

t

154 AN ACCOUNT

mctAf and of Mr«, ElUot's embafly. The
majority of them copceived that things at
Foonah wore fo favourable an afped^ that
with their own force, without any affiftance,
they would be able to bring matters to a fa-
vourable conclufion ; and therefore that there
was no occafion for the Bengal detachment.
Upon this they refblved to write to the com^
mander not to proceed in his march, but re-
main with his detachment at Culpee, The
reafbns they gave were, that the difficulties
to be encountered in the country which lay
between Culpee and Bombay were unfur-
mountable, and therefore the march imprac-
ticable, and expoling the Company's; troops
without neceffity : that it was not poffible to
procure for them either pafles or provifions ;
that the apprehenfions exprefled by the Su-
preme Council of a war with France, and of
attacks upon Bombay were not grounded ;
and therefore the expence occafioned by fuch
an undertaking was not warrantable, Meff.
Draper and Stackhoufe diflented from this
relblution ; they were of opinion the fituation
of the prefidency was / not altered either in
relpeft of the French or the Mahrattas ; that
it was well known the French had defigns
againft ChwK The event has (hewn how

ill-

i

O F B O M B AY. 155

ill-founded was the reaibning of the majority
on every point. Perhaps there were otfiec
motives which occafioned this refblve. Th«
detachment, had it reached Bombay^ would
have had the honour of all the advantages
which were infured by the junction of the
forces : this has fb often indGiuenced chiefs
and commanders in all ages, that attributing
it to the majority of this council cannot be
judging harlhly. Notwithflanding the op*
pofition of sMr. Draper and Mr. Stackhoufe,
on the 2 2d of April, the council wrote to
the commander of the detachment, defiring
he would Hop at Culpee, and not proceed
till he fhould hear further from them. Ra-
gobah's impatience, which daily increafed,
made him look over all difficulties; he prefied
more and more the departure of the troops^
and his own : he repeated the detail of ad-
vantages that would immediately follow the
open and avowed declaration of the Engliih,
that they fupported his caufe. He delired to
direft his march by Callian, where he af-*
firmed that Vifiagee Punt, a confiderable
chief, was upon his appearance ready to de*
dare for him, and join his flandard. He of-
fered to put the Company into the immediate
poilefiion of Bafleiu; and defired a ilate of his

account, ^

1

156 AN A ceo UN T

account, and the produce of the Perguniiah's
to be affigned to the Company for the pay-
ment of their troops. But his affairs at Poo«^
nah weie far from the fituation the apparent
zeal of Morabah and Saccaram had repre-
fented.

' f ' >■ *

Thi Pooriah' Durbar were very uneafy at.the
march of the detachment from BengaL The
reaibn given for it to them both from the
Supreme Council and Bdmbay, having been
the danger that muft accrue to the Englifti
jTettlement from the French being in poflef-
lion of Choul^ they defired to know if St.
Lubin's immediate difmiffion would fatisfy
the council, fb far as to induce them to ftop
its march ; they made excufes for his having
been permitted to remain there fo long ; al-
lowing that fome promifes had been made,
they aflerted that it was done only with A
defign to' amufe him ; they repeated their
former reafons for the delay of Tumbacker;
but, upon the whole, they evaded granting
the duflucks or paffports for facilitating that
march through the Mahratta territories.

The Bombay council on the 1 5th of Ma^f
(ent their orders to Mr. Moftyn to Ijpeak pe-
remptorily

r

OF BOMBAY. 157

remptorily to the Poonah Durbar, that they
ihould declare whether they confidered the
treaty of Porounder as fubfifting, and the
Mahratta ftate to be bound by it ; to demand,
agreeably to that treaty, the poflefiion of a
country producing three lacks near Broach ;
to infift upon the countries ceded by Futty
Sing as they had not produced the proofs
required by the treaty ; to demand an ex*
plicit declaration con<;£rning their engage-
ments with the French ; and to require an
anfwer in fourteen days ; telling them pofi- .
tively that a farther delay or ev^on would be
conftrued into a refufal, and that the council
ihould ad in coniequence.

At the fame time they took off the re-
ftraint they had laid on the march of the de-
tachment, and direded the commander to
advance toward the coaft. The reafon they
gave for their change of opinion was the
continuation of the French-* refident at Poo-
nah ^, and the apparent bad difpofition of the
Durbar to the Englifh.

Morabah

•

* Advices were received at Bombay that General Bel-
combe, commander at Pondicherry, had come to Mahe in
a fixty gun ihip; the council judging this to be the efFedl

of

&

15« A N A C C O UN T

Morabah bad a meeting with St* Lul^n,
nt wbich be told him that the Engliih jea«
louly made it neceflary^ he fhould abfent
himfelf for a time^ but it ihould not alter
the friendfhip of the Mahratta nation to the
French*

St. Lubin had undertaken to Morabah to
bring to Poonah 2000 Europeans within fif»
teen months, or at leaft before the detach-
ment from Calcutta could arrive at its defti-
nation. The Poonah Durbar wrote at the
fame time to the Supreme Council to deiire
they would recal the detachment, upon this
ground, that they were complying with the

pf St. Lilbin's i&trigaes, and fearing the confequeaces re-^
qudled Sir Edward Vernon to defer his departure, who
promifed to employ his frigates in fearching the whole
^cQafty but added that he could not lofe any time> bat
muft proceed to Madras. General Belcombe*s deflinadoii
was faid to be Surat, where he was to flay during the
rains; he did arrive atTillichery on the 3d of April 17789
in the Brilliant, a (hip of fixty-four guns, and brought three
hundred Europeans^ who landed at Mahe. He gpt pof*
feffion of a fmall fort by the ceffion of the prince ot Chef-
rica, who had orders for that purpofe from Hyder.Aflif
whofe .vailal he was. This poflfeiHon was of confequence,
as it commanded the approaches to Fort St. George upon
Green Hill which is the key to Mahe. Monf. Bellcombe
was to leave Maljie jthe 24th of April, and retsm to
Pondicherry* . It was affirmed the Briljsiia&t bi^q^gat twp
hundred foldiers bom Mangabore.

treaty

.1

OF BOMBAY. 159

treaty of Porounder, that they fincerely in-
tended bringing Ragobah to Poonah ; that it
was delayed only as it was neceflary that
Furkia, who was advancing with a large
fol|^ fhould be confulted ; that Monf. St.
Lujbin was difpatched; that his fhip had
brought nothing but merchandize : and that
they meant in all things peace and amity
with the Engliih.

In truth Morabah had urged St. Lubin to
depart, that he might fboner bring the troops
promifed, but he flill remained at Poonah,
%iiig he would fend letters which would
bring theni as foon as he could do, if he in
perfbn went for them. The Durbar at the
fame time wrote to Modagee Bouncelo^ de-
firing that he would, if poffible, by fair
means perfuade the commander of the detach-
ment to return, and if he could not fucceed
by fair means to do it by force,

St. Lubin had, in the month of . March
preceding, written to the captain general at
Goa for leave for two French regiments to
pafs through the Port ugueze territories, and
to the governor of Damaun for a permiffion
for the French to ufe that port ; both thefe

requefls

i6d AN ACCOUNT

I

%

Jfequefts were With great civility refufed, as
they might tend to a mifunderftanding be-
tween the two crowns of Great Britain and
Portugal, who were in ftrift alliance and
friendfliip ; but liberty was granted for their
fhips to refrefh in the Portugu^ze harbours, for
which purpofe they fhould be allowed fifteen
days. St. Lubia in anfwer endeavourejd to
reconcile him to his requeft-, and added, that
though to yield to the Englilh jealoufy, he
was obliged to leave Poonah, he (hould not do
lb without having fully effeded his bufiuefs. ->

It was evident that the Durbar were feek*
ing delays, that the rains might come on
before any thing was concluded. If they
could retard the march of the detachment
until that time, they reckoned the rains would
then flop their progrefs, and during that in-
terval the force might arrive which had been
promifed bySt.Lubin, who, notwithftanding
the promife of Morabah, remained at Poo-
nah. Hence frefh occafions of delays were
found on each application of Mr. Moftyn for
the duftucks or paflports. At laft, he feeing
that the diflenfions in the Durbar ftill con-
tinned, and that Sindia and Holcar infifted
on Ragobah's being brought to Poonah, ap-
plied

^iied to them ieparately, and they readily
gtanted him every order he defired for thel
fafe and und|ifturbed paflage of the detadhment
through theif relpeftive domiiiionS-

The prefidency of Madras, in confeqtieiidd
of letters from the governor and Supreme
Council, had deterniined to lend to Bombdy
the aid they had requiefted : they recciveld
letters dated the 29th of April, with advice
of this t and now once more varied their dt*-
ders for the route of the detachment, difedC-'
ing their march to Sufati

An atteilipt ^as made, abbut this tirhe, by
a relation of the infant Paifhwa, who was
one of his atteiidants, to fteal his peffon from
the fort ; he had carried the child hdlf way
doWti the hill before he was difcovered ; there
being flopped, he was fent to prifbn j and the
child was carried back into the fort^

On the I ith of June the Bombay CoUnfcil
received notice from Mr. Baldwitt at Grand
Cairo of the fituation of iafiairs between the
Englifh and French nations, add the flate of
war they were in#

The

i6i AN ACC6U N f

«

The uncertainties at Poonah itill.xoiiti%
liyed. Nanah, leaving Jiis. retreat hadugoue ^
to. Sindia, . who received him,. 9nd. pronaiied^;
him fupport. . They fent to all tha.officexs^ <
requiring their acknowledgment of them as
the minifters 'of the Paifhwa., .

Ragobah now- informed the council that^^.
bojth parties had applied to. him,, and that^*
even without the appearance of . aa Engiilk •
force he might proceed to Poonah,. fure.qf- .
fuccefs there. He allowed that . both .were i
his enemies; but faid. their difcord. was i. lb.
great that nothing could go on, which drove
them to this application ; and. he undertook,
that his march would . not be attended with '
any oppofition, clpecially if the-Englifli force .
appeared with him, and that the carrying the. »
cannon through the.Gauts, and a fupply . of
provifion (hould. be his xare.

On the cfther hand Morabah was retreat-
ing^ from Poonah, having. i^elivered Jthe ieals
and the e^nfigns of office to Holcar, who i feat ~
them to Sindia,, by whom they were .deli-
vered to Nanah, whereby he .was once motei •
•ftabliflied in the Durbar ; but a very confi- .
derable number of adherents remdined to

Morababy

b F BO M BAV. 163

Morabah, and -it was probable, that this
tonteft would not end without, flaughter.
Nanah's force in a manner furrounding Poo-
nah and Porounder fort, and occupying all the .
jpaflages in the mountains. He treated with
Holcar as well as Sindia, and offered each
bf them immenfe fums if thej would efpoufe
his caufe.

Nanah and Morabah each now wiflied in-
terviews with Mr. Moftyn, who could not
form a judgment which of them would ulti-
iiiately get the better. He had procured
a copy of the paper delivered by Nanah to
St. Lubin on the 13th of May 1778, ex-
prefsly requiring the affiftance of France,
*' to punifli a nation who had raifed up an
" infblent head, and whofe meafure of in-
*' juftice was full ;** and in reward of this aid
promifing a jaghire to be granted from the cir-
car of the Paifliwa. About the fame time the
Durbar had fent an anfwer to Mr. Moftyn's
reprefentations, no way favourable, but in*
fiftiiig, that they had in every fenfe complied
with the treaty of Porounder. The council,
on the 24th of June, refolved to have ever/
thing in readinefs to Und their forces to ac-
company Ragobah, whenever it (hould ap-

L 2 pear

i64 A N A C C O U N T

peal: that the pafles in the mountains were
free,

Mr. Moftyn being returned to Bombay, and
having given the fele<9: committee there all
his information, and remarks on the precede
ing fafts and difpofition of affairs, the nature
of the country through which the troops
muft march in cafe of their joining Ragobah.
in his march to Poonah, which he repre-
lented as very prafticable to infantry ; the
committee, on the 21ft of July 1778, re-
folved unanimoufly, that the Durbar's an-
fwers were a violation of the treaty of Po-
rounder. That the fituation of affairs in
Europe, and the reftoration of Nanah Fur-
neze, created a neceffity of immediate mea*
fures to effefl the fubverfion of that party
which was connected with the French in
fchemes hoftile to the Company, and for
eilablifhing at Poonah an adminiflration with
whom a fecure and . permanent alliance could
be maintained. That for that end Ragobah.
muft be placed in the regency, with a pro-
vifo that the goveriunent and Sicca * be con-
tinued in the name of the Paifhwa during his

* The feaK

minority.

r

OF BOMBAY. 165

minority, and (hould be furrendered to him
at his legal age; that Morabah fhould be
acquainted that they will heartily join in this
plan ; that an order fhould now be fent to
the commander of the detachment to purfue
the moft eligible route to Junier or Zener ♦,
avoiding in his march the proximity of Aij-
reiigabad, or any part of the Nizam^s do-
jniiiions.

On the 1 1 th of July Morabah had been
jfeized by 2000 men of Sindia's force, and
kept in the camp ; at the fame time all who
were known to efpoufe his caufe were feized
like wile, among whom were Vifagu Pont
Binny, and Butchaba. Nanah had the name
of minifler, but Sindia had in reality the
whole power ; Saccaram was not fo much as
confulted, and it was probable that both he
and Nanah wpuld be foon confined, and Sin-
dia aft openly alone. Soon after both Mora^*
bah and Butchaba were confined in different
forts^ Mr. I^wi^ the refident at Poonah, by
the renewal of the obftacles to his correfpon-
dence^ foon found the influence of Nanah's
government. That p^rty now afted as if

* So called ia JefFries's map.

L 3 the

i66 A N A C C O U NT

the continuance ofitl>ejr power was fecure,
the arnaies of Sindia aiiH FUrkia each day de-r
creafed/ by their difcnargiiig numbers of their
fiorle. ,. e

The governor general and Supreme coun-
cil in the beginning of this nionth took pot-
feffion 6{ phandernagore, and wrqte to the
prefidency of Madras to order a' fufficient
corps of troops to be io readinefs to 'march to
Pondichprry, affirmiug that the war was
now certain, ^ and that if they had not re-
ceived advices or orders to the contrary froni
.England, they fhould proceed to hpftilities;
bpginning by the attack of that plapie which
would be their firft, as the fettlement of
Mahi. or Mah^ fhould be their fecond cap?
ture,

Frefli propofals came now from Nanah
^nd that party to Rasobah, all which he re-
jed:ed, and infifted upon either being regent,
and having the cuiiody of the infant Paiflh*
wa, pr a partition in equal parts of the pof-
ftffions of the Paifliwa family, whereof one
fliare ihpuld be his. On the 1 6th of Auguft
the prefident acquainted the committee, that
pa this refufal the meflenger from Nana||

OF BOMBAY- 167

'hdd applied to him; but this application
being verbal no further notice was taken of
it. Sindia, after telling Saccaram, that his*
age prevented his being ufeful, bad ordered
'him * to his houfe, and no more to inter*
ineddle, and had placed a guard on him.

Hyder Ally had notv taken Damar, anSj
*i?as marching towards Merits in oi*der to at-
tack- it, on which the Durbar ordered a force
to '©ppdfe him. Befides this misfortune,
they were embarrafled by the difobedience of
particular chiefs ; Nanah had fent orders to
•the ^illidar of Anidanagur that he fhould
iklt^er his fort to Sindia, the Killidar re^
plied, he held it for Ragobah ; and not only
Tefiifed to futrender it, but feizfed three lacks
cif roupies which belonged to Nanah, and
were returning from Aurengabad, where they
had been fecured for hiro during the late
^troubleSt ^ J

St. Lubtn had been difmiffed by Nanah,
but remained at Datnaum, and a continual
€orre{pondence was kept up between him
^nd Monf. Briancourt the Fr^ch refidetit at .
Surat, upon their fcheme of procuring troops
to arrive at Choul, and thence proceed to

L 4 Poonah;

J

i68 AN ACCOUNT

Poonah ; and by intercepted correfpondence
with Pondicherry, it appeared that Naiiah
liad not only required the fiid of France as
abovementioned, but that it was ftipulated
that the French Ihovjld, as foon as it was
pradicablc, move againft the Englifli, for
which firft fervice they (hould receive twenty
lacks of rpupies, ^nd (en (hips with fepoys;
and upon the^r attacking Borpbay they (hould
receive twenty lacks more : by one of thofe let-
tters, on pretence of the war being begun, they
(3enjanded paynient of the firft t>venty lacks.

It was now the i zth pf Oftober, whep
Mr. Carnac delivered a minute to the Bom-
bay council, repre(enting that much time had
pa(Ied fince the 2 1 ft pf July, on which day
they had refolved to a(rift Ragobah, the iu-
-cpnveniencics of a delay, a^d the advantages
. -Vvhich might be taken of the pre(ent (ituation
of the Poonah Durbar diftrafted by divifions,
and their army not yet a(rembled : this v^ras
feconded by the information and opinion of
Mr. Moftyn, whp added, that the adherents
to Morabah muft conclude, jf this opportunity
ivas fufFered Jjo flip, that Ragobah was given
up, Ife further faid, as to the diftance at
which the detachment ftill wa^, that thpugji

it

J

O F B O M B A ¥• 169

it might have been of more material advan-
tage if nearer ; yet even in its then prefent
iituation, which was near Sindia's capital, it
would be of great ufe by keeping him in awe,
and thus facilitate their enterprize, whilft on
their fide, that enterprize by fixing the at-
tention of the Durbar, would prevent the ob-
ftacles which might othcrwife annoy and re-
tard the march ; and he added, that the
longer the execution of the refolve was de-
layed, the greater the French influence, and
the more eifedual the preparations at Poo-
nah would prove ; on which it was refblved
by the majority (Mr. Draper difTenting) that
the reiolution of the 2 ill of July for con-
ducting Ragobah to Poonah be forthwith
carried into execution ; and Mr. Lewis was
direfted to hold himfelf ready to leave Poonah
at a moment's warning*

On the 3d of November the refident and
whole French fadlory at Surat were made
prifoners of war by orders from Bombay*
They continued fome time at Surat confined
to their garden, being permitted to remain
there to prevent inconvenience in their pri-
vate arriri^ements ; but it was foon found

that iptrigijes were carrying on for. the delif

very

1

;t7o AN jA/C € O U N T

• very of the caftle of Sumt to the^Mahrattas,
Ju which they, had a confiderable (hare; they
ivere thea; trausfbrned to Bombay,

At. this time news was received there thdt
-pottdicberry had, . on the 1 8th of Oftober,*
furrendered to the-Engliih, by which event
-the -government <3>f Madras were enabled to
tiend a det^ichment to reduce the French fettle-^
-roent at Mahe. This redudioii was foon
^after. completed^

On the 4th lof November the council, to
carry tlieir plan into execution, appointed^
<:ommitteg, confifting of Mn Carnac, Colo-
nel Egerton, and Mr, Moftyn, which was
called the Poonah committee ; it -was to make
:the arrang^acjents proper for th^t fervice, to
communicate the intentions of the Board to
Ragobah, and finally to fettle with him the
previous ccuiditions on whic^ the ^ftance
.was given. Colonel Egerton, who, at the
^me of appointment, did i>ot fuppofe they
iWere to accompany>him in that capacity on
the intended expedition, and therefqre had
approved the meafure, now protefted againft
it, as being contrary to the orders of the Di-
fedors,/^nd ^s wnneceffary, inafmuch as no.

Gegoti?itiQii

J

r

OF BOMB AY. i9j

negptiatipn could tj^ke plape on the road,
upon which tne orders of the feleft commitr
tee could not be had in a fliort time, and a$
' the orders of the Directors were j that in tSe
abfence of the commander, the feleft com-
mittee (hould coniift of the govprnpr, and fe-
cond and fourth in council, the abfence of
Mr, Carnac whp was fecond, would prove a
direft breach of thpfe orders^ Mr, Draper
on this laft ground adhered to him, but it
was carried By the governor's caftlng yote^
that two would be a fufiicient feled: cpm-
mittee, apd the meafure paffed.

Things were again retarded by a differ-
ence with Ragobj^h. A circular letter was
prepared to be iflbed by him on his landing
on the continent, in which, affuming no
higher titles than thofe ufed by Badgerow
in the treaty of 1 7 3 9 , he declared that his
view was only to take the adminiftratiofi
out of improper hands, and exercife the re-
gency during the minority of the young
!Pai(hwa, in which he would condu<S afFaira,
and continue the Sicca in the Pailhwa's
nanie. This letter be^ng lhe\Yn to him
he objeded to thoie claufes, but afterward
feemed to acquiefce, on cpndition the council
?5^Quld lend hfn> the fiirther fum of three

lacks

\

172 A N A C C O U N T

lacks of roupies, and furnilh fome military
ftpres ; but the letter being left with him, he
made alterations therein, whereby it differed
widely from the intent propofed ; afTuming
in the title a name of dignity which belongs
only to a Paifliwa, and totally omitting the
claufes relating to the adminiftration and
Sicca. It was refolved, that if he did not
accjuiefce in the form prefented to him, and
accede to the propofed conditions, the bufi-
nefs fhould proceed no further.

After fome confideration he confeiited to
the terms propofed in the letter, withal de-
firing that it might be reprefented to the
Company, that he infifted that child was
fuppofitious, and that in cafe he could prove
it he (hould be at liberty to aflume the Paiih-
wafliip ; if he could not, that a partitiou
might be made of the country, and its govern-
ment, agreeable to the law of the Gentoos.

Three lacks of roupies were now advanced,
and 1500 muikets and five field pieces
granted to him, the committee reprefenting
that as the Englifli troops would have more
than fufljcient, a greater number would be
an incunabrcincet

The

OF BOMBAY. 173

The bcxiy ordered for the fervice confifted
of 143 artillery, with 500 Lalcars, 448
rank and file European infantry, and 2278
fepoys, making in the whole, officers included^
3poo men.

The treaty fettled with Ragobah was to
the efFeft of the abovementioned conditions ;
and by the laft article the treaty of Surat
Was in every point confirmed, and the fol-
lowing places afcertained as the pbfTeffions of
the Company :

Baflein fort and town with its diftri€t:s and
full dependencies : Jambofieir and Orpad,
and the ifland of Canary ; an afTignment upon
the Pergunnah of Occlafier for 75,000 rou-
pies a year : all the fmall places . belonging
to the diftrid of Salcet, which were to be
reftored ; and the Pergunnahs of Afhmood
and Hanfbod ; regular funnuds were to be
iffued under the Pailhwa's Sicca for the abfo-
lute free grant of all thefe places ; belides,

I'

He engaged to pay for the 4000 meti
with which he was to be affifled, two lacks
and a half of roupies a month. No Eu*
ropean fettlem^ents were to be allowed in the

Mahratta

L

1

ij^' A I«f A C C O U NT*

Mahratta dominions, without the confent of
the Conipaiiybr their repreferitatives. And'
it 'was agreed th^t if any article of this treaty
iitter^ered with rffty engagements which might '
have been taken by the Supreme Council, it
fhould be liable to be. altered or amended.

This was fettled oil the 1 8 th of Novenx-
ber, with one conditidir more, m regard to
the cuftody of the peffon of the child during '
hi^ infancy ; as he dreaded that If Morabah
had that cuftody it would in efFe£k give hira
the power of government, and thereby the
fcene of troubles would be renewed^ It was
ftipulated the care of his perfon fhoul4 be
coiiimitted to Perwetty Boy, and if fhe fhould
rcfufe to accept, or after acceptance chufe* to
refign it, he (hould be difpofed of in the mari-
ner moft conducive to his lafety, and the
honour of the contrading parties; On the
27th of November he affixed ^his feal to this
treaty. The council advanced him another
lack of roupies, fo that he received in the
whole four lacks*

•

On receiving intelligence that the mini-
ft^rs at Pobnah were making preparations to
oppofe the intended ' march, it was reiblVed

to

6 P BO MB' Air. 1^5

tocipedite it; and Colonel Egerton affuring-
that every thing was ready, the troops were*
ord€fred to march out of the^iiknd the 2 2d '
of November In the mean time all cdm^
mumeation with the continent was flopped, '
and orders were fent to Mr* Lewis to provide
for his own fafety.

Captain Stewart wds with the firft'divi*
fiOQ to proceed by the way of Apta and fe-
cure Bore Gaut^ and Colonel Egerton him-
felf was with the other divifion, which had
proceeded under the cbmnoand of Colbnel
Czjf^ to -^ize Billapore*

On the 1 5 th of November Captain Stewart
had, without having met any oppofifioii,
taken pofleffion of the Gaut, and the^^fott of
Candoli, where Mr. Lewis reached him in
fafetyi and'Goloilel Egerton on the 26 th en-
camped at Panwell^th the rerhainder pf
the army.

By the inftr uftions given to the committee
on their proceeding to join the army, the
line was drawn between their funftions and
thofe of the commander, giving them the
fole management of all matters of negotia-
tion.

L

}

V

t76: A N A CC O U N T

tion, the execution of the general plan ol
the expedition, and the determination of all
points relative thereto ; but they were prohi*
bited from intermeddling in the detail of thd
duty of the army, the mode of mar(?h or en-
campment, or of carrying any military mea-
fure into execution.

On the 1 5 th of December the whole army
with the committee had reached Campoly^
where intelligence was received that a body
of minifterial forces^ being 10,000 horfe^
with fifteen pieces of cannon $ and a large
number of Boudays, encamped at Worgaura^
three cofs on this fide Tullingaum, to ob*
ftruft the march when the Englilh fliould
make their appearance above the Gauts^ that
5000 horle were to proceed down the Cuf^
fora Gaut to cut off the communication with
Panwell, and that Nanah, Saccaram, Sin-
dia^ and Furkia were encamped near Poonah
with 5000 more. Their refolution wasj by
hovering about the army, without coming
to a clofe engagement^ to diftrefs and weir
them out. Ragobah was encamped near the
Englifli, and it was not doubted but a number
of chiefs would foon appear with a force fuffi*
cierit to remove all thofe threatened obftaclcs-^

Though

OF BOMBAY. 177

Though it ivas now the 2311 of Decern*
ber, the army had not proceeded further than
Campoli. This immenfe delay was occa*
fiofied fay the makiqs; of roads for the can-
non; Mn Carnac remonflrated againft it^
and proposed that they fhould be carried up
by hand, which he argued w^s poffible, as
ibme artillery had already been pafled that
way. The commander treated this as chi«
IQierical, and they continued there, attacked
now and then by fome of the hovering
troops, who, whenever they came near e-
laough to be reached by the Englifh army,
w»e repulfed : it happened rery unfortu-
nately that in thefe ikirmiihes Colonel Cay
was mortally wounded, and Captain Stewart
killed. The lofs of thofe two excellent
officers was of great confequencer; at the
feme time Mr. Moftyn's illnefs, which had
begun foon after he left Bombay, incieafed to
fucb a degree, that he was obliged to return
thither, where he dyed the rft of Janu-
ary : and Colonel Egerton found his ilate of
health fo bad, that it difabled him from at-
fading either civil or military functions;
in confequence he refigned the command of
the army, in which Colonel Cockburn fuc-
oeedad him. Major Dagon of the artilleiy

M wa^

178 AN. A e C O U NT

was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant
Colonel.

r

The Englifh force had now pafled the
Gauts. and reached Indorain. The reality of
things proved far from aniwering the idea of
fuccbur they had flattered themfelves with
at their letting out They had expeOied
that as foon as they fhould have paffed the
Gauts, Holcar and other chiefs of rank would-
have joined them with large bodies of horfe,
by which, if they received no other fervice,
provifions and forage from the country round
would have been fecured : but no fuch ap?
pearedjj nor any perfons but a few mercena?
ries. Ragobah law he had been deceived,
and owned, that unlefs they whom hf; reck-
pned on as friends were by the Ipeedy diefeat
of his enemies affured of fafety, he could
not reckon on their joining him. As the
Englifh and he advanced towards Poonah,
the difficulty of being fupplied from the
Concan increafed, from the greater advantage
given by the nature of the country to the
flying parties, and the only hope ' left wa^
that when they Ihould approach very near
to Poonah, Holcar might be enabled to ful-
fil his promifes. Other accidents concurred

(

i

p P B O M B A Y. 179

to increafe the defeftion or coldnefs of Rago*

bah's partizans. Morabah confined in Ah-

mednagur, had been informed that Ragobah,

inftead of taking proper meafures for his re- 1

leafe, had written to the Killedar of that

fort, not to loofe him, until he fhould fend

his orders from Poonah. This was foon

fprcad, and whether true or falfe, had an

c&d: fatal to his caufe. Indeed it was

plainly feen by the committee that Rago-

bahs aim was, by the £ngli(h arms to force

his way through all oppofition, that fo every

body might be at his mercy.

The Bombay council, to facilitate fup-
plies from the Concah, fent a detachment ot
a company of Europeans, three of Sepoys,
two field pieces and artillerymen to clear the
country between Panwell and Campoli ; at
the fame time they exhorted the new com-
mander Colonel Cockburn, to lofe no time,
but proceed with vigour in his march.

Colonel Egerton, after his refignation, had
fet out to return to Bombay ; but the roads
Were fb occupied by the roving parties of the
Mahrattas, that finding It impoffible to reach
panwell, he returned to the army, where he

M z refumed

1

x8o AN ACCOUNT

reiumed hrs place in the pommittee, but not
in the command of the troops* The ctMn^
mittee therefore now conii&ed of Mr^ Caraa($
and him only^ Al^r a march b€ fifteeit
^ays, during which they wei% c^tinuaUy
l&arralSed by nunaeraus parties of h^rfe^ whc^^i
whenever th^ encamped came fo near a|
to cannonade, but when attacked iuftantly
retreated^ the army reach/eid TiiUangaum,
which was but eighteen miles from Pooniah^
the whole couixtry w^s Imd wafie, a^d ev€ry
thing that cpuld not be carried off deftrpy€4 ^
by firp. Tullangaum at their aerrival ww irt
flamips ; the fame fate impended for Cbiniura,
and even PoonaL After a hah of two days
at this place, where the enen^y harraiied theta
in th^ir wonted njanner, the committee upoQ
enquiry found there muft fpeedily be a want
pf provifions, and the particular circumftances
of their fituatian being coniidered by them,
they determined that it was not poffible for
the army to proceed, but th?tf they muft re-
treat towards ^orpbay,

Upon this deter^iination, Mr- Carnac fenf
for Colonel Cockburn, and mform^d him of
it. The colonel remonftrated againft it, al-
MS^^^ th^t the '^n^liih t^^oops ufed not

6 # BOMBAY. 181

'to fctfeat but advance zgiinGi the enemj,
trould tte di^xnjfstged by fuch a meafure^
tvliich as it damped their fjilrity muft in pro
portion raHe that ^of the Mahratta troops^
Who would not ££1 to attack them during th«
toardi ;lfeatiif the Engliflihyill fortune fhould
be at iafft •forced to treat, they would infift on
Tery hard terms ; whereas if a treaty was to
be made^ it were more advantageous to en<-
dcavour at it in die prefoit iituation when
they were within eighteen miles of Poonah j
that if permitted to continue the march, he
had no doubt of carrying th6 amiy there*
Stft the retreat was refolved, and the order
given. 1^0 have the advance of the cnemy^
the mafch was to begin at eleven o'clock
that night ; it was made in three divifions ;
the^ troops, which as they marched forward
Hrere the advanced guard, now became the
rear; they were commanded by Captain
Hartley. The main body was incumbered
by a great quantity of baggage, 1 200 pack ^
bullodks^ 300 carts, a buzar, an artillery
park, and 1000 coolies * with officer's bag-
gage« The enemy furtounding on all fides,
amounted to more than i oo,ooo,the£nglifh

^ /i fpedes of iKc bwcft kiad^

M 3 army

iSa A N A C CO U N 1*

army originally, not quite 4000, were fbnie>
what diminifhed. Colonel Cockbum thought
it proper to acquaint Ragobah with his de-
fign ; by this the enemy were apprized of
it, and about two in the morning the advan-
ced guard was attacked ; they had proceeded to
a confiderable diftance from the main body,
which had been retarded by dragging the
baggage through very bad roads, this the
enemy took a great part of. The attack was
continued' with vigour, but notwithftand-
ing their reiterated charges, the advanced
guard about daylight reached Worgaum,
having faved moft of their provifion and am-
munition. About four in the morning the
main body was attacked on the rear and both
flanks ; the halt this occalioned gave the ene-
my the opportunity of bringing up cannon j
the army then formed, and the attack became
general about fix. The weight of it fell on the
rear guard, commanded by Captain Hartley ;
the condu£t and courage of this gallant officer
was anfwered by the bravery of his men.
From the fituation of this corps, aad the dif^
tance of it from the main body, no fupport
Was given them till about twelve o'clock j
during thefe fix hours he fuftained repeated
charges, without being oftce broken. A

fmall

OF BOMBAY. 183

imall part of the European battalion was
then fent under Major Frederick, who had
orders in every thing to a£t by the diredlion
of Captain Hartley. The major chofe \yhen
he had joined the rearj to a£t in a private
capacity, as a volunteer. Soon after this
reinforcement had arrived, the order came foe
the whole to retire, and about four in tJie
afternoon all the army had efFefted their re-
treat, and got to Worgaum, having loft fix-'
ty-three artillery, fixty-two Englifli, and
two hundred and thirty-leven Sepoys*

During the halt at TuUangauni, Ragobah
had for himfelf opened a negotiation with-
Sindia, and declared his intiention of putting
himfelf under his proteftion : he was received ^
by him, and was at this time actually in his
tamp, where he was treated with refped,

•The iiext day, the 15th, the committee;
had another confultation on the difmal fitua-^
tion of their affairs, apd Colonel Cockbura
being afked his opinion, notwithftatiding the ^
bravery (hewn the preceding day, gave it un- ^
der his. hand that the troops would not. i^nd \
fuch another attack; that from the number!

, M .4 . . .■. o£i

1^4 AN A C C O Ui^ T

ber of the enemy aild their reitei-atetd attack^^
they fhould^ through their many halts, be
twenty days before thfey cotiM reath Panwelf,
and muft be totally deftroyed ; and he declared
he could not charge himfelf with cohda6ting
the army to Bombay ; in this opinion^ Colbnel
Egerton (though he did not fet his hand to
it) concurred. Upon this it was determined
to try whether they could not, by treating
with the Mahratta chiefs, extricate themfchres^
firom the dreadful ftreights to which they
were reduced. As Nanah the mmtfter, itk
whom the power oftenfibly refided, was then
in the Mahratta camp, it was thought proper .
to fend Mr. Farmer to him, to negotiate for
in undifturbed retreat of the army to Bom:*
bay; He at firft was tolerably well ttceived^
and nothing more detibahded than that th&
perfon of Ragobah ftiould be defiveted iip ?
but when that was found not poilible evea
though the Englifh chiefs fhould yield tt> fct
humiliating a condkton, Kamh^s behaviour
altered, he rofe in his demands, and infiflred
that the Englifti ihouM furrender all Ac
acquifitions they had made fince the time of
Mahderow ; that the detachment tindc*^ Co-
lonel Goddard (hould be ordered to retreat to
Bengal, and intimated that the Englifh army

mttft

I

OF BOMBAY* i%s

laitift be detained where they then were, till
the lands to be ceded hy this treaty w€re de>-
livered into the pofiefHon of the Poonah
XXirban To this fevere requifition he added
infnlt ; for Mn Farmer was left in the opea
Buzar without any covering but his pakn-
queen, or any place in which he could write
his meffages. Thefe mortifying terms being
come to the English camp, another confulta-^
tion was held ; Mr. Carnac declared that at all
hazards he fliould prefer continuing their
retreat rather than fubmit to fuch difgraceful
conditions ; but as the militaiy officers had
given tfieir opinions that it was impoflible to
efl^ft it, he would not take upon himfelf
to decide on his fiiigly* In this emergency
it occured to them, that Sindia having in
Ibme mqalbre fliewn himfelf favorable to the
caufg of Ragbbah by his reception of himj
mig^t on this bccafionbe ferviceablc tothem«
To try this J Mr^ Holmes was fent to him.
On his w&y he was met by Ibme of Nanah'^s
troops, who, as they feared that this me{^
fage might prove to the advantage of the
ianders, and the diminution of their maflerV
credit, endeavoured to prevent his accefs to
Siiidia, firft by requiring him to go to Na-
nah| afid then detaining him till a party of

Sindia's

i86 A N A C. C O tj iSF f

Sindia^s troops came and dilperfed them,- ana
carried him into their matter's prelence ; there
he was received with humanity and kindnefs;
Sindia feenied flattered with this acknowledge-'
inent of his confeqiience ; and upon Mr;
Holmes, in his refurri of thanks for his ci-
vility, comparing his behaviour to Nanah^s
in regard to Mr. Parmer, he immediately
fent for him, arid defired that both he and
Mr* Holmes would look on themfelves as his
jguefts. They then begun to treat with him
on the fubjeft of their miffion, in the firft
jpiace fhewing a writing figned by the com-
mittee, wherein they declared th^ had not
power to grant fuch terms as the Durbar in
the perfbn of Nanah had prefcribed : that fuch
a treaty would be a nullity, and that Ihould
tliey be compelled to fign fuch. a conven-
tion, the minifters would be deceived if they
trufted to it. This declaration^ was alio pre*
Rented to Nahah, who would hear of no di-
minution of what he had required; he even
fent a meflage to Sindia defiring that he would.,
hot recede from that point of retaining the
army, but moreover require particularly the
fiirrender of the caffle of Surat and Fort Vic-
toria, aiid the payment of the expences of
the war, before they fhould be releafed ; ana

OP BOMBAY. ig;

at the ikmc time he fent orders to Furkia
to take the proper mieafures for preventing
their efcape. Mn Holmes promiied Sindi?;
that if he would befriend the Englifli in this
matter, the council of Bombay would oeda
to him Broach and its Pergunnah which
had been conquered by them from )the Nabob
of Surat. Sindia did efFedlually endeavour to
leflen the hardfhip of the. terms impofed, but.
prevailed only in regard to the releafe of the.
army. He prevented the orders given to.
Furkia from being executed, but left her
ihould difpleafe the other Mahratta chiefs re-
quired that hoftages (hould be given for the
performance of the ftipulated ceffion.

Hard as thefe conditions were, they feenied;
to the committee preferable to the lofs of thd-
army, which they looked on as inevitable,
(hould the Mahratta chiefs be thoroughly ac-
quainted with the defpondency of the leaders ;
they feared that Sindi^, apprehenfive of lofing
his influence .with thofe chiefs, who, fenfible
of the advantage thisoccaiion had given him
muft wonder at his negledt of it, might
through that and the reiterated inftances .
of Naijah, be prevailed on to come into
and fecond his rigoro,us conditions, perhaps^

if

m AN Ac ed u N 1^

Jf^tlgered by refiftance enhance l3*eiirii ; ivA
ifclj^ng on the eSh€t of the cxprefs dechration
fe ^Iblcmnly given under f heir hands, that the/
lidd not power t<j accede to fbth terms, tnA
fliat wh*:evei: thcjr thus were compeHed to
do, wotild be a hulfity^ they cotifented to
fign a <:onveiltion^ whereby all that had been
tfequired by the Boinbajr cotlttcil fince thd
tlttie tif Mihderow was td be iurfen&rcd^
atid orders to be fent to Colonel Godd^rd to
edndt^ his'detadhment back to Befdgal : ^nd'
Mr. Farmer and Irfiettfenarft Stewart ^;^re to
remain as troftages for the perfofimance at
tfeefe conditions. -This done the army wat
permitted *to retreat to Bombay, dfcorfed by'
l3i detachment of horfb : Ragobah remained
Under the proteSion itf Sindia. Mr. Holmes
thought it proper to be munificent 'rnprefents
to Sindia^s officers^ but not having ready cafll
miade his prefent in bills and notes payablo
at 'Bombay, amounting to 41^000 rou|Aes*

The feelings of men tiow reduced to bd
guarded by thofe very troop they had, been
accuftomed to behold flying before thenl, can
be more eafily imagined than 'defcrlbed : by
the time they iieached Botobaty^ the joy xraufed
by their fafcty bad given Way to indigtiation^

at

OF BQ M B AY. 189

rt the Aame sfid di^;sace W^h(? «n ilir
Sritifli »nns.

«

On d^ 2(94^ of January tike coancil met
ACBoitsbaf, mwhi(di Cdlonel Egerton aitd
Colonel Cockbom refumed thek feats. The
firft tbifig done was reading the diary of the
ttn&rtunate ex^edklon; after which Mr*
Hornby repsefefited that the caufes of the
lailure of it might be matter of future confi-
deration, that they ihould now proceed to
determine what meafures were to be taken
for their fiifety, gnd retrieving their affairs.
He arraigned the condu^l: of the leaders whilll:
be extolled the bravery of the army, and in*
fiflted that to keep Dp that gall^t fpirit they
\aji fliewn, it was neceflary to diftinguilli
thofe who h^d done them honour fxom thofe
who had been wanting in their duty, whoffe
example was pernicious ; he mentioned fome
inferior ofRcers to be tried by courts martial,
^t the fame time he impeached the conduct:
of Colonel Egerton and Colonel Cockburn^
and ofiered it as his opinion, that until their
behaviour could be fully enquired into, they
ihpirld decline af£ting in a military charafter ;
Jiis charge was particularly in regard to the
ppiiiion Cplw^l Cqcfcbvirn i^ned at Wor*

gaum,

190 AN ACCOUNT

c^um, in which Colonel Egerton had con*
curred. If they did not confent to what he
proposed, he fliould move for their fufpen-
(ion. Colonel Egerton at firft infifted on
keeping his place boA in the army and the
council till a formal charge was delivered
^gainil him, but upon further confideration
Jie, as well as Colonel Cockburn, acquiefced,
and they declined ading in their military
capacity until the opinion of the fupreme
j:Q\jncii ihoujd be kngwHt

It is not furprizing that after fo difagree-
able an event the aftors fliould endeavour
each to throw the blame from himf^lf. The
Con?pafs of this work will not permit de*
fcending tp many particulars of this alterca-
tion, which appears at length in the minutes
pf the i^ombay coungih

Mr. Carnac blamed the flownefs with
which the army proceeded from Panwell, and
to that attributed the greatnefs of that force
to whiqh they were obliged to yield ; and as
to the retreat, he affirmed that there was no
poffibility of a£bing ptherwiie as things were
then circumftanced ; he blamed the diflance
pf the divifions whereby they were unable to

fypport

OF BOMBAY. 191

fupport each other, and the not having or^
dered the fecond divifion to fupport the rear
when attacked, which he affirmed might have
Ibeen eafily done ; and as to the determination
atWorgaum, he faid that his own private
opinion was againft it ; but that although, by
his cafting vote in the committee, he might
have prevented it, he did not think his au-
thority extended {o far as to give orders for
the march at ail events ; and though it had,
it would have been imprudent to give it to
officers who had exprefled fuch an opinion
ef the troops they were to lead. That there
was no alternative, no way left, but to ob-
tain the heft terms poffible for the unmolefted
feturii of the army to Bombay.

Colonel Egerton juftified the delay attri^
buted to him by Mr. Camac, from the im-
poffibility of dragging the artillery through
roads impaffable till mended by the labourers ;
from the time neceffarily confumed in getting
provifions ; and he pofitively denied that he
had refufed conduding the army from Worrr
gaum to Bombay, or having concurred in
Colonel Cockburn's written opinion, which
he did not remember fo much as to have
fcen till it was produced at that board.

Colonel

\

19^% AN ACCOUNT

Colonel Cockburn laid all the nufcarriaga
oa the firft erroir in 9rdering the retreat. He
iet forth ia bis juftifi'catioa the renooiiftrance
be had jaaade ag^oA it ; his undertaking, i£
the army no^arched fidrward, to condu£l: it to
Poonah ; that the diAance of the divifions
was occafioned by the quantity of baggage*
and the badnefs of the ground through which
they were to naarch, whereby the firft divi-
fion, unencumbered, was enabled to advance
more quickly thau the others ; that as fbon as
poilible he had fent relief to Captain Hart«
ley. He owned the opinion he had iigned^
ami faid, that it was founded oa the in6>r«
^ppiatian he had received from iepoy officers
that their men and black officers were likely
to defert in the night, which was confirmed
by meflages received from Ragobah and Mr.
Sibbald ; that fome defertion did a£lually hap^
pen; that fuch another attack would have
exhaufted the ammunition ; that the great dif-<
ficultyof carrying three hundred fick men
would have increaied their embarrafTments i
that the army, already diminiihed in aum-«
bers, having fp many attacks to fuftain, muft
have totally periihed ere they could hav^
reached Pan well : thefe were the grounds of

.hisiopiniQi^^ jnotwithftanding which he would^

to

O F B O M B AY. 1^3

to the beft of his ability, had Mn Carnac,
by his cafting vote ordered the retreat to be
continued, have led the army; that by fay-
ing he could not charge himfelf with the
condu£l of the army, he did not mean to re-
fufe condufling it, if fuch an order had been
given, but merely to avoid refponfibility for
the ill fuccefs which he forefaw ; that Colo-
nel Dagon was of the fame opinion ; why
Was he therefore accufed as the caufe of a
meafure which depended on others ?

Captain Hartley was, for his fervice on the
retreat, promoted to the rank of Lieutenant
Colonel ; this occafioned complaints and re-
monftrances from the other officers; but
thofe things are not of a nature to be dwelt
on here*.

* In the letter to thefccret committee, the council of Bim
bay enter very fully into the reafons for the advancemeac
of Colonel Hartley, and mention not only his conduft on
the retreat, which favecj the whole army, but his fpirited
advjce when confulted at Worgaum, where he infifted,
when defertion was mentioned, that he could depend 6a
the men he commanded, that he had efFeflually prevented
defertion from fpreading in his corps ; he urged every ar-
gument for continuing the retreat rather than fubmit to
difgraceful terms. He even formed a difpofition, and prc-
fented it to Colonel Cockburn for condufting it, and avoid-
ing the inconveniencies of a night march, and the diviiion
of the troops. He hath fince (hewn himfelf worthy of his
advancement.

• N The

i$4 AN Account

The return of the army to Bombay was
immediately followed by the arrival of a Va**
queel from the Poonah Durbar, and one fe-
parately on the part of Sindia, demanding
in form the poffeffion of the federal places
ftipulated to befurrendered; the anfwer giveil
was, that Meff. Carnac and Egerton had no
authority to conclude any treaty on behalf of
the Company, that this had been declared to
the leaders of the Mahrattas before the paper
upon which they grounded their demand was
fubfcribed, and that the Bombay council had
no authority to take any fteps in confequeftce
until they received the fentiments of the Sti-
preme Council^ to whom they would difr
patch a veflel, and wait their determination-
Care was taken at the fame time to leave an
opening for treating feparately with Sindia.

On the 19th of February the Bombay
council took into confideration the ftate of
their affairs^ The prefident Mr. Hornby
laid before them a minute on that fubjeft, in
Which he entered into a full detail of all fa6ts
and circumftances. He mentioned, in the
firft place, the attention they fhould have
paid to Colonel Goddard*s army, and in-
formed them that it had reached Brampour

the

OP B O M S AY* ig$

the 29th of January: he added, that there
was no danger of a Mahratta army marching
againft him, as they were too bufy at home:
that they were ibready fending troops to the
neighbourhood of Carange and Salcet, being
teiblvcd to obtain theceflionof all promifed by
the convention of Wargaum, which they had
demanded the pofleffion of by their Vaqueels.
He reprefented that as it was to be expedted,
that Nanah would lofe no time in proceeding
to enforce the ceflion he demanded, they
aught to lofe no time in their preparations to
refifl: him* He then entered into a detail of
what had pafled previous to that convention,
lamentijig the bad eiFeds of difcontinuing a
march which would have been equal to a
vidory I he mentioned all the particulars re*
liating to Sindia^s behaviour when applied to
by Mr* Holmes, as a proof of his inclination
to be on good terms with the Englifli, not
only on account of the promife made to him
of Broach and the (hare of its Pergunnah,
but from political future views, - which he
deduced from the feveral incidents at the ,
time of the convention and foon after, and
from the circumftances in which all matters
iiood at that moment. He mentioned th^t
^^ Holmes during his refidence in Sindia'^

N a cap;

196 AN ACCOUNT

camp, had obfetved that all affairs of im^*
J)ortance were determined by him though
they were oftenfibly referred to Nanah, whd
in virtue of his office was to affix the leal td
the orders, but this w1as never done till Sin-
dia had exatiiined and pafled themi that
Holcar, though treated outwardly with the
refpeft and form due to the firft Subahdar of
the empire, was totally at his difpofal : that
Sindia had acquiefced in fending hoftages to
Bombay in exchange for the Englifli whb
remained with him, ind had taken that oc-
calion of fending a confidential perfon to the
prefident: that Mr. Holmes, who was re-
turned to Bombay v^^s charged with the moft
friendly aflurances from him : that Mr. Far-
mer, who remained with him, was treated
with kindnefs ; that he permitted no inter-
courfe between him and Nanah ; that he had
the command of Nariah's and Holcar*s force
as well as his own. He then informed the
council of vvhat had pafled between the Mah-
ratta chiefs after the retreat of the Englifli,
and the difpolition of the feveral departments
of their government ; which were^

t • The infant Madherow Narrain was to
be acknowledged Paifhwa^

2. Sevagi

J

O F B a M B A Y. 197

>. Sevagi Badgerow (a fon of Ragobah,
born to him fince the adoption of Am-
rut Row, and) an infant of very tendef
years, to be Naib, and that the exercife
of his office Ihould be carried on iij
his name by Sindia and Holcar,

3. That Ragobah fhould totally relinquifh
all claim to government, and have a
jaghire and reflde at Jafli ; that he (hould
fignify in writing to a|l the powers 11%
India, that he accepted and agreed tp
this condition.

4, That Nanah and Saccaram fhquld aft
as niinifters, but derive their authority
totally from Sindia and Holca'r. Thefe
leveral articles were, he faid, fblemnlv*
agreed to by all the chiefs,

He then mentioned inftancea of Sindia's
difpofition to a feparate alliance \vith th^
Englifh ; that he was more inclined to grant
Mr. Moftyn's requifitions. than even Mora-
bah ; that his averlipn to a French alliance
was known, having formerly made advances
repeatedly, and in Mr. Moftyn's abfence,
fent Appagee Sapagou, the very perfbn then

N 3 . . in

k

igS A N A C C O U NT

in Bombay, to Mr. Lewis, \tho knowing
that raeafures were already taken with Ra-
gobih. could go no further, than to make
general profeffions of friendlhip; that Ap^
pagee avoided all meeting with the agent fent
by Nanah, and ha:d in charge only the par-r
ticular interefts of Sindia: that he never
mentioned the return of the bengal detach-
ment ; and what was very remarkable, though
the order from Meff. Carnac and Egerton to
Colonel Goddard for that purpofe had been
delivered to him to be fent^ they had no ac»
count of its haying been yet received *f

From tliefe feveral fafts he reafoned on
the motives which caufed them ; that the
the f)rlncipal view of Sindia muft be to re-?
tain' 'his power at Poonah; that he had to
dre^d the jealoufy of the other chiefs, ne-
ceffarily fearing his power, and the ufe
he, when fully eftablifhed, might make of it
in crufhing them ; that the Nizam and Hycjer

* Meff. Carnac and Egerton wrote from Campoli the
i 9th of January 1779, ^^^* ^^ ^"^^ ^^ pay no reg;ird to
their order of the i6th, becaufe, upon recolle<5lion, they
found they were not aiithorrzed to give it. This he re-
ceived pt Burbatii pore the 2d of February, and the order
pf the 16th of January he only received the 9th of February
in his camp atChopwah upon theGutnuddy, by aVacjueel
i^longing to t|^e infant PaJfliwti.

I

OF BOMBAY. 199

svere ready to fupport them againft him. The
influence of the Bramins, through the afcen-
dancy of their caft, and their great wealth,
was another fource of uneafinefs to him :
that however great his power whilft he was
gt or near Poonah with his troops, his ab-
fence from thence would afford opportunities
to thofe who felt the weight of it to (hake it
oiF, which dangers made his prefenge necef-
iary ; whilft on the other hand . his private
concerns fuffered by his abfence from his
own dominions : that the King had taken
occalion from it jto feize ibme forts belonging
to him ; that he feared both the Nizam's and
Hyder's attempts of the fair^e kind ; that he
had fome uneafinefs ^Ifo in regard to Moda*
gee Bpuncelo, whofe interefts eroding his,
xnuft. be apprehenlive of his power ; that if
Nanah, at liberty by this abfence to exercife
his talents and influence, fhould regain the
fuperiority, he would, by the French aU
liance be enabled to keep it. From the de^
tail of all thefe confiderations he drew the
following conclufions :

J. That the actual adminiftration of affairs
in the Mahratta empire was at Sindia's

N 4 difpofal;

L

200 AN ACCOUNT

difpofal ; that Nanah was reduced to be
no more than the tool of his power.

2.. That Sitidia^was not only inclined to the
Englifh in preference to the French, but ,
carneft for fome clofer connexion, and al-
liapce with the Englifh.

3 . That the accompliflimcnt of the terms of
the convention, fo far as related to the Poo^
nah fircar, was not the obje6l of his views,
lince he had in faft given the Englilh the
option whether to comply with them or not,

4. That the performance even of the private
article in his favour was not the firft objed
of his confideration ; but chiefly intende4
as a fund to pay from in any alliance,

5 . That independently of his views to an al-
liance he had fome motives of policy, which
rendered him unwilling that the Englifh
poffeflions and power on that coaft (hould
be materially reduced,

»

6. That it was for the intereft of the
Company, and neceffary to their purpofes
3t this fet^lement, to find what Sindia's

rea]

OF BOMBAY, 201

real intentions were, and to take meafures
in concert with him for the excluiiou
of Nanah from all power.

His realbns for his fuppofitions were, that
nil dominion but that of the fword was over-
thrown at Poonah ; that Sindia being then
in pofleflion of it, his great objeft muft have
been to fecure it, and his intention either to
remove the feat of his government to Poo^
nah, or to eftablifli there fome power fub-
ordinate to his. That the firft was dangerous,
and would alarm all the chiefs who aimed to
continue their independence, as his great
power muft enable him to crulh them. The
Nizam and Hydier would be ever ready to
fupport them in the Ibuthern parts of the
empire, where the 3raniins have great weight
from the circumftances of caft, riches, and
influence. In Sindia*s own jaghire, the king
taking advantage of his and Holcar's abfence,
was making fbme progrefs againft them ;
that Modagee looked to the Rajafhip ; that
the king and he muft be confidered as dan-
gerous enemie? to Sindia, As to the fe-
cond, the ejlablifliment of a fubordinatc
power that feemed more fuitable to his cir-%
purnftances and agreeable to his paft con*

dud.

/

ZQ% A N A C C O UN T

4u^. The dilficulty lay in the means : his
phoice of Naa^ to be Duau arofc from his
hope of gairuog credit by thie moderation
Ihewn in placing in that office a man of fuch
^ftbilities, aijd of the Bramia ca:ft; but this
choice was dangerous by the occafion his
abfeiice and Holcars alfo (whofe affairs called
feim away) furniihed Nauah to aflert his
independence, and. continue his connexions
with St. Lubia ; that the arrival of the affift-r
jince from France would reftore his fuperio-
yity, but the fupport of the Englilh power
on the coaft was a iecurity againft even his
independence ; that the Bramins in general
were inclined to the French ; that even Mo-
rabah was fo ; that it was the mutual intereft
of both Sindia and the Englifli to guard
againft Nanah and their influence ; that the
council was hQUi>d in honour to acquit them-'
fclves to him, his protection at Worgaum
being a valuable confideration ; that Rago-.
\>dh by his engagement with Sindia had re-
lieved the Company from the care of his in-»
tereifts ; and that all ftipulatioiis tending to
be.hoiiile to Berar were to be avoided. He
therefore, in the firft place, propofed that
the noi3es given by Mr. Holmes among §in-
dia's c^Qers as Purbar charges, amouutr

OF BOMBAY. 203

ing to 41,000 roupies, fliould be immedi«
gtcly paid.

In the mean time every thing was to be
prepared fb as to be in readinefs for fervice,
that if Siadia fliould refuie their advances an
army might be fent into the field toward
Surat or Broach, to zQl in concert with the
detachnjent ; that an alliance with the Gui-
,cawars Ihould be attempted ; that fuch a
connedijon was defirable from their command
of the Guzerat, their averfion to the Poonah
government, and their diftance from the cen^
ter of the empire ; that the divifions which
then reigned among them diminiftied their
importance ; that the connexion Futty Sing
had with Sindla fhould incline them to him ;
that an alliance with Sindia was in every re*
fpeft preferable to one with Modagee Boun-
cello, as the claims he had upon the fuccef-
fion to the Rajafliip tended to create embar-
rafl'ments.

That as to Ragobah there could be no
thought of purfuing the plan of his reftoration :
that circumftances differed totally from what
they were in the year 1775, when fer vice
W3S tentlered to him by Sindia, who now had

the

to^ A N. A C.C O U N T^

the command of an army, the only title to
the empire, that Ragobah was his penfioner,
and merely a cloak to his ambition, Upoii
this reprelentation it was refolved,

That the convention at Worgaum was ini^
valid ; and that as after the exprefs declaration
to the Durbar, that the committee had not
the power to accede to thofe terms, the pub-*
lie faith could not be confidered as pledged j
that the general anfwer already given to Na-?
pah was all then iieceffary.

That Sindia, in confequence of his good
offices, was entitled to every mark of regard,
-and that it was neceffary to find fome equi-
valent to the ceffion of the Mogul fhare of
the Broach Pergunnah ;

That the notes given for 41,000 roupies
Durbar charges {hould be forthwith 'J)aid ;

That there was good ground to hope Sin^
dia is well difpofed to and willing to ente?
into a connexion with the Company ;

♦
That the object in this cqnnexion mull be,

I - Tho

OF BOMBAY. io5

i. The total exclufion of the French, and
<>f Nanah from any fh^re in the go-
vernment at Poonah*

2. To preferve for the Company the ter-*
ritory they then held.

That it was abfolutely neceffary to lofe n6
time in endeavouring at this, and to avoid any
engagement hoftile to the Raja of Berar ; that
nothing (hould be finally fettled without the
concurrence of the Governor and Supreme
Council ; that in confequence of thefe reib-
iutions the prefident Ihould write to Sindia. ^

Although the reflexions of Mr. Hornby
were in general well founded, he was mii-
taken in two points : the Durbar at Poonah
were not inattentive to Colonel Goddard's
march; they had a<5tually detached 20,000
of their beft horfc to furprlze him, but his
celerity in his prog'refs from Brampour pre-
vented their reaching him, they therefore
returned withdut haviq^ committed any a6k -
of hoftility. Nor was Sindia lb well inclined
to the Englifh or naturally averfe to a French
alliance: though he had granted pafles; for
the march of the detachment through his.

country.

w«

.566 AN ACCOUNT

country^ and made no hofiUe oppo(kion, h^
had thrown obftacles in their way, by or-
dering the merchants to remove from Brani-
pour, whereby it became difficult for Colonel
Goddard to raife money on his bills. This
manner of acting was confiftent with the
policy that guides the princes of Indoftan ;
whatever diflentions reign among them, they
all unite in hatred of Europeans, and raoA
of the Englifh whom they fear : this is their*
natural bent. Their feeming prefmt intereft^
or the views of their minifter, either for
their inafters or their own private advantage^
often predominates ov«r that bias ; by tho&
channels only they are acceffible* The pre*
fident in confequence of the refolutions wrote
to Sindia, but he did not n^et thofe ad*
vances in the manner hoped for. The 4e*
mands of th^ ftipulated ceflions w^re r^tc*
rated, the delay occafioned by writing to the
Supreme Council was complained of as ati
evafion ; effeds follow^ed thefe 'meflkges, a
body of their troops advanced to fort Vic-*
toria, and intelligence was i?eceived of pre-«
parations for the attaplgijf Salcet Propef
precautions taken prevented their effe^ing
their purpofes.

The

OF BOMB AY. ±07

The kappy arrival of Colond Goddard
ivith his detachment at Surat, on the 25th
of February, changed the face of affairs* It
k now time to revert to the proceedings o€
the Supreme Council and the miarch of that
detachment ; but before vte enter upoa that
fubje6:) it may not be amifs to enquire iata
the caufe of the remarkable event juft r^
lated : a gallant army, after a defence as glo-^
rious as a vidtory, reduced humbly to crave
ai^ fubmit to dilgraceful terms, and retire^
covered vnth fhatiie, to the place whence they
had fet out, pluming tbemfelves in full aA
forance of returning crowned with fuccefs,
and the honour of giving a ruler to the Mak*
ratta empire* The charawfter rof the prince
whom they efpopfed, and the views of tfeofe
who efpbufed him^ lead to it* The true way
of judging mens charafters is not to decide
upon thcJ events of their lives, bqt upon thek,
behaviour in confequence of thefe events^
Thofe in the life of Rag^obah are variotfs, and
fomeof them furprizing; from the begin^
ing to ^nd he hath been the fport of Fortune
in all her inconftancy. The changes from
iU to good feem to be tht effe£t of the policy
of the Materaita chiefs, and thofe from ppo-^
j^mty. to wretchednefs, the tffe& of ofci-

tancy,

Sto8 AN ACCJOUNT*

r

tancy, and fudden impreffions of fear prcci-s
pitate In their exertion. Naturally bold and
brave he formed fchemes of greatncfs, and
entered upon theni with Ipirit ; but looking
to one objeffc only, he faw not the obftacles
that lay in hi$ way, or the thorns that might
render his paflkge difficult, yet he was prone
to fufplcion, which i when once admitted, to-
tally abforbed every idea but that of the dan-
ger it pointed out, and hurried him to decide
merely on that idea, without examining, whe-
ther it was well founded or groundlefs* At
the fame time as prone to truft thofe to
whom he applied in fuch emergencies with-
out knowing whether they were well or ill
inclined to him : he had talents of generalihip
which he exerted with fuccefs ; his errors in
forming his defigns feem to have ariien from
ail over-weening impatience which prevented
his examination of the probability that the
promifes of his friends^ and the warmth of
his expeftation^ would be anfwered ; this
• made him venture rafhly, and urge with im-'
petuofity thofe on whom he could really de-
pend, not conlidering that if by yielding to
that raflinefs their flrength was broken, .he
loft his only fupport ; that impetuofity made
him fuppofe his wilh completed when the

firft

b ^ fe O M B A V. 2b^

JiHl: ftfep towards it was fcarcely taken , and
forget that he owed attentions to thofe who
had already favoured or might in future fa-
vour his ciaufe, and a£t sis if he was really
feated in the fullnefs of power arid no more
wanted their ailiftance, or feared their en^^
mity ; he faw not the true reafoii of his fo
leadily meeting fuppot^t in his ill fortuhe^
that the princes who then efpoufed his caufe
did it not from any perfuafion of the juftice
of it, or any afFeftion to his perlbn, but
merely from policy^ their independence being
preierved by the continuation of the diilen-*
tions which the Mahratta empire ; during
which they could not be called to account
ibr their tribute^ as the fide they befriended
would notj^ and that they oppofed, could not
enforce payment of it : this fyftem accounts
for the general run of the afts of the Mah-^
riatta chiefsj, This it was which raifed him
armies in his former diftreffcs, and influ*
enced Sindia to receive him when the Engliih
army retreated from TuUinghaum^ and to
foften the rigour of Nanah's requifition at
Worgaum ; he had no rrafon to fear their
profperity^ and knew, by experience, that a
complete fettlement of the empire, under the
i)uan(hip of Nana, and miniflry of the Bra*

Q znlns^

240 A N A C C O U NT

mins, would extinguifl) his inflgance, ap^
that as foon -as they foi^nd jthemfe^y.^^ efla-
blifhed ia their pbfts, and ftr^.ngtheii^d m,
credit by an increafe of territory, .they wQuld
demand and enforce th^ paynoieot of the v
rears of tribute : this muft hav^ beqa the fir^
thought that ftruck him oh the application
of Mr. Hohnes, the fending hi5 v^qu^l tgr
Bombay! with particular inftru^ions on hij
ieparat;e intereft, plauily proves it : hfi m^A^X
to have Ragobah under his prote^ioq, qx ra*
tjher in his cuftody, that he .might upon
occafion make a proper ufe of that gii:<;9Ba^
ijtance.

Unfortunately thje impatience of Rpgobah

was communicated to the greatcft part of the

Bombay council ; like him, too eaftly tryft-

iiog to outward appearance, thpy im^ippd

themfelves at Poonab from the njoment the

miniftry quarrelled ; the many tergiverfatious

and uncertainties which reigned in that VfiX-^

bar did not open their eyes. Upon tfee firft

.profpedl of fuccefs attending Ragobah's party,

or rather thofe who ufcd his aame to com-

pafs their ends iu depriving their enemies of

the power they aimed to affume, they al»n-

doned themfe)yes tQ the fUtteripg fqeoe of

importance

bP j^ d M B AY; iii

Importance and credit accruing to tliem
from fettling and giving k chief to an em-
pirci and feared noticing but the dJmmution
t)f gloi-y which they might fuffer frffm bihci
perfons having a (hare in the cttterpri:iei ^
This muft have been the motive of* their for-
bidding the advance of the Bengal detach^
ment by their firfl: orders^as well that of their
hurry in planning and in executing the at*
companiment of Ragobah and reinstating
him in the regency, although they knew that
by the tonfinement of Morabah, Butcbaba
and their adherents^ and the fmall degree of
power Holcat had, the principal force oft
which they, had reckoned would be wanting.

Their impltiende exceeded that df Rago-
l)ah ; to prevent delay by his objeftions to
the treaty, they increafed the fums advanced
to him ; the march of the detachment and
Its daily progrefs was kno\vn to them, they
might have calculated the diftance which
each day diminiihed, and by a fettled corre-
fpondenoewith Colonel* Goddard, have carried'
6n their plan fo that he might have co-ope-
tated with them J with this precaution*
fucc^fs was certain , but then the honour 6f
that fuccefs muft have been attributed to his*

O 2 Ikill

zi2 ANACCOUNT

ikill in the execution, and the wifdom of the
Supreme council in fending that detachment
to their ailiftance : this was a meafure from
the beginning difagreeable to them, they
were angered by the firft interpofition of that
council which produced the treaty of Po-
rounder, and that refentment was kept up by
the exercife of the fuperiority given by the
a£l of parliament ; this appears through their
minutes of council, and thofe fentiments
helped to ftrengthen the others *.

The ill-timed order given by Ragobah
for the continuation of Morabah^s confine-
ment was another fatal ftep ; the a£t itfelf
might be called ingratitude to the man who.
firft ftirred in his favour, when he feemed
forgotten and excluded for ever from all

chance

* la jnfticc to Mr. Draper, one of the members of the
Bombay council, it muft not be omitted that he diflented
not only from the firft refolution to forbid the advance
of the detachment, but alfo from that of the 12th of Ofto-
ber 1 7 78, for conducing Ragobah to Poonah with an armed,
force; he grounded thisdiflentionon, ift. Their departure
from the conditions prefcribcd by the fupremc council,
•* That their plan (hould not interfere with any engage-
" men! formed with Modagee j that by advice from Eu-
** rope>,they (hould be aflTured thai the force they fcnt
" could be rpared without danger, that their engagements
" with Ragobah or Morabah (honld not be hoftile to the

« Rajah

O F B O M B A Y. 213

chance of a return tx) power ; and it (hewed
a difpofition of mind which made not only
Morabah*s friends averfe to him, but ftruck
the other Indian chiefs as an indication of
his defign to govern with the fame ftridlnefs
he had before done, when his title in the
minority of his nephews to the regency, and
after the death of Naron to the Paifliwafhip
was undifputed : this would have totally
put an end to their fcheme of independence,
the maintenance of which is the moft defi-
rable thing for the inhabitants of the dif-
ttids refpeftively bordering on the Mahratta
dominions, and the particular interefl: of the
Englifh government in that region. The
fituation of the countries of thefe princes
fhews the probability of fuccefs in a lyftem

•* Rajah of Berar/' — ad. Morabah and Butchaha being
Hill under re(lraint.-^3d. The diftance of the detachment
being yet too great.— 4th. There being a great deficiency
in the European force from the eftablifliment ordered by
the company^— -he added, that although he was convinced
of the neceility of removing Nanah| and reioHating Rago-
bah in the regency^ it appeared to him that it might be
ei&fled with more propriety and greater probability of
fuccefs, in about two months, as by that time they might
hope the reflri^ltons, with refpe^l to the Berar negociatioo^
might be removed, and the detachment might arrive at the
d4ftination ordered in July (in the neighbourhood of
Poonah) and the company's i(hips ai^d the fquadroa migh^
Iw with them.

O J ^rmed

414 AN A P q O U N>T*

farmed far that purpofp. Sgp^^te treatip?
\vitl) eac)i wpujdt ftr^^gthen and enaWft thep)
(9 refiit fhe force, of tjxe Pqqii^ Pxiybart
which tfhi^ woulci not faij jto, dp when
tjijey found ^|ii(?mfflycj fuppprted by Jinglill^

'XW procpedijigs of the CQuncil qf ?om*
h^y h?y^ hcen related without the inter-r
fereRCf of ofhi^r mattery, tl^at by an uninterr
ryptpd narratiqn they mi^i ^pp^r clearly :
it VflU he nqceflapy tq f efume thpfe qf th^
Supremo Cpynpij, ji^d the ?i£l* in qoQfc-"^
quepcft, partiGuJarly tl^e ^Siiarch of the detach'?
inept corpniaude^ by Coionel J^flie thrpugti^
t^ h??^t of Indift^an ^ a mQfi{\^^ of high im-
P9^ta^ipe, the ef?^ pf fphiwef long reyolve4
in the mind of its author, bold m its con-
ception* and wntinued with p^rfeversfnco
from the conyi6kion of its utility : the eyent^
fi<3^Uy pijoduced by it muft decide whether
raih apd precipitate, qr political and truly
calculated, fpr the good of the company, a§
well as for the f^nie att^iidan| on fo hi^h aii
pnterprize.

This meafure had not pafled in council
ut great debate. From its novelty^

' '' ^ ' ^ ■ the

I k >■

OF B &U 6 AY. 21S

(the ufijil manner of ferfdiAg tfoops h&ving
been by fea) the general ignorance of the
country to be paffed over, and of the relations
and iritercftS of its princes a^d chiefs, the ap-
parent dangCT from the heat of the climaTe,
the delay which muft be occafioned by thd
rains, the inconvcniente arnddifficulties \^hich
might ariie from want of provisions and af-*
fiftance from' the powers of tlie couiWry 6t
perhaps from their .oppofition, it Was Iboked
on as imprafticable; but for the reaf6nsab6v6
related the council determined it not only
pra£!icable hiii expedient. The neceflaiY pre-
cautions were takeQ with the princes of the
coiafntrics t^roxigb v^hich the detaclimcnt was
to pdfs by apprizing them of the defign^ of
its march!, ind its pacific difpofitions to th^m,
and requefting their affiftance in furnifliing
provifion^ : particularly letters were wridten*
to the Paifhwa and his miniftry fully ijien-
tioning thefe matters, arid Mr, Moftyn' was
inftru<3ted to afFure them of the CQUncirs re^
fblution to abide by die treaty of pQroynder,
ta explain the neceffity of protecting: the (et-
tlement of Boiiibay frrfm foreign invafibn,
and to deJfire they would give orders to their
chiefs dependent on the Paifliwa not to mo-
left the army in thdf march, but toiupply

P 4 them

'ii6 ANA ceo U N T

them with what afiifiance tljey might ftan4
in need of.

•

On the 23d of February i^yS^refolutions
having paiJed in council for the appoint?
ment of Colonel Leflie to this command, or*
ders were iffued in confequence for the troops
to aflemble on the weftern frontier of the
province of. Owdc, either at Corah or in the
neighbourhood of Culpee, as the commands
ing offipei: might chufc.

Each fepoy battalion confided of feven
hundred men, rank and file, one captain, ten
fubalterns Europeans, with the ufual number
fif native officers ; and two pieces of artillery,
fix pounders^ were attached to each t>attalion^

The regiment of cavalry confifled of five
hundred natives, commanded by Captain
Wray ; the body of horfe from the province
of Owde was compofed of natives of the pro-
•wince of Gandahar, and was of the fame
ftrength : this corps had been in the fervicc
of the late Sujah Dowlah Nabob of that
province, and was continued by his fon. It
was commanded by a very gallant officer,
who was alfo a native of Candahay.

Th€

OF BOMBAY. ^l^

The artillery confifted of four light twelve
pounders, and two howitzers, befides the two
fix pounders above-mentioned attached to
each battalion of fepoys : it was commanded
by Major Bailli(s, one captain, and four fubal-
terns,and a company of natives were appointed
for the fervice of the whokt

Lieutenant Colonel Fortman was field
engineer, with an afliftant, a quarter-mafter-
general and deputy ; and all the other officers
belonging to the ftafF, and perfons neceflary
to be employed in the feveral departments of
ftores and provifions were named and chofen
by the commander ; to whom likewife un-
limited authority was given to order fuch
ftores, and in fuch quantities, as he might
deem neceflary for that fervice.

On the 1 2th. of April, the firfl: divifion of
the troops arrived at their rendezvous at Co-
rah, where the whole were afiembled on the
^5th, when Colonel Leflie joined. From
the 5th of May to the 1 8th, the troops' were
filing off by detachments, with their baggage
aiid ftores, to a pafs on the banks of the Jum-
na, oppofite Culpee. The diftance between
Corah and Culpee is about forty miles ; tha(

river

ai8 A N A C C O U N T

ntef fof m8 the ^cffef rt boundary of the do-
xmfi'wAs of thi Nabob of Owde*

*■

The town and fort of Ctilpee, which &snd
en the other fider of the river, die' the elfierd
boundary,. «f a fmalf diftrkS:^ bordering cat'
the Bettwah Nullab*,. on the odier fide of
which lies the Boondelchund country, begin-
Jng at Jallapoor, Tbt» diiftrift was poflefled
by Gungadiur t^un», tffc commairder of the
Mahr2d:ta fmce m that part of Indoftan : he
bad reeeived orders from Nanah to^ uie atl* Ms
endeavoufs to Jwrevcnt the progress of the
EngHfl^ march. He had with him bis brow
ihet Baliag^, wl^ofedontiinrons wereforrher M
the wefty andthroogh which the route of the
detachmeitit iay. This man had^ grea-t power
and influence aver . his brother,* aiod thrcsagh
the whole country, his cunning was great,
aad. l^e lai4 fh^ feheme df obifeuding. us^ by
every w^y pref^tably to arms, amd to^ have
recoui^ie nO' dapfer wherr his dec^^on failed of
fuceefe : in conieqiterice vaq<ueels> were- i^nir
frona. bc^ thefr cMHfs to Colonel Leflife wi«h
si^Rniaoces' o^ cheir ix^flers coitikit and con^

* ^uU^ ifi'diGUl from 4^ river bjr ythvch ffounds^ arb
Vatered,

OF BOMBAY. 219

icurrence to the march of the detachment^
with th^ promifc of a plentLful fupply of
provffions through their country, and Balla-
jg^ advifed him to go to the Nebuddah by
the way of Mow, and offered himielf to be
]bi$ condui9:or* Colonel Leflie not yield*
ing to theie fpecious appearances, deter*
ouned to proceed warily, for their vaqueels
were not iaipowered to conclude any treatyt
pr even to treat,, therefore every thii}g was
vague and fufpicious. The governor of the
fort of Culpee by his behaviour fhewed how
Qeceflary caution was, and how kittle declarati-
Qtxswpre to be relied on. Application had beea
made to higi for the aid of his boats in pafl^
iag the rjyer ; this he not only refufed, but
as the workmen were employed in repairing
thofc which had been colloiSted, a party de*
tached from the fort began to fire on them ;
this was returned by the covering party, which
with a few rounds from two pieces of artil-
lefy, obliged them to retire.

Colonel l-fcflie fending for the vaqueels^
who were ^iU ia camp,, reprefented tp them
the trj^achery of fuph conduct, and at the
fame time informed them of his intentions.
^p crpf? the river next d^yj thfi vaqueels.

madt

220 AN ACCOUNT

made excufes, begged for another day's delay;
and propofed that he fhould crofs two and
thirty miles higher up the river; Colonel
Leflie rejefted this propofal, adding his
reafons, with which they feemed perfeflly
fatisfied^ and defired leave to go and inform
their mafters, promifing to return in the
evening with an anfwer, which not being
performed, gave caufe to fufpeft that fome
oppofition would be made to the paflage of
the river.

The next morning, the i pth of May, at
dawn of day, three battalions of fepoys
the ,firft, fourth, and feventh, with their
€rtill€ry arrived at the pafs. The firft
divifion eroded the river, and immediately
formed ; Colonel Goddard who commanded,
feeing fome troops aflembling in his front,
fent a meflage to their chief, defiring to pafs
unmolefted ; the anfwer was, that they (hould
come on : yet fome fmall bodies of cavalry
began to fire at a diftance on thofe troops
that were croffing and forming. This was
endured, until fome were wounded ; batteriea
which had been placed to cover the landing
of the troops were then opened, which very
loon difperfed the eneniy . That part of the

troops

J

O F B O M B A Y. 221

troops which had now paffed were ordered
to advance towards the village of Culpee,
which was about i mile diflant, and Major
FuUerton, with the grenadiers, to prevent
any furprize, was directed to make a move-
fnent to the left, but rather on their rear,
both parties direfting their march towards
the village, where they were to unite. From
the place whence the grenadiers had mad^
their movement, the ground they had to pals
through was broken and uneven, with high
banks and raving, and the road fo intricate,
that, after marching fome time, they found
themfelves at a greater diftance from the vil-
lage than when they firft moved ; they were
then very brifkly attacked by a body of about
twelve hundred Mahratta horfe. The men
behaved with great fpirit and coolnefs, ill
particular the grenadiers of the fourth batta-
lion. They began however to be prefled
when the other part of that battalion with its
artillery, fupportedby the feventh, came from
the village to their affiftance, and foon deci-r
ded the conteft. The enemy retreated witht
the greateft precipitation to a fort about fix
miles diftant, where they had fent their ef-
fcdls, and the troops were too much fatigued
to purfue* A few ^ grenadier fcpoys were

wound^ ;

iin AN A C C.6 U 1^ f

wounded ; the lofs of the enemy was mtfefe
more confiderable, and quiet pblJeffion was
taken of the fort and village of Gulpee, which
they had evacuated.

This firft a£l of hoftility was followed hy
another vaqueel from the two chiefs, difjf
avowing all knowledge of what had pafTedi
promifing to punifh the offenders, and foli-
citing friendfliip. Colonel Leflie defirous of
adhering to the Ipirit of his inilruftions, ac-
cepted their excufcs, propofed terms of agree-
ment, and while thefe were adjufting, the re-
mainder, of the detachment, with the artil-
lery, baggage, and ftores, grofled the river.
The terms of the agreement were, that the
troops fhould have an unmolefled paflage^
that they (hould be fupplied with provifion^
and neceflaries at a proper price, and that thd'
fort of Culpee fhould be kept by an Englifh
guard, as a fecurity for the performance of
of the agreement. The pofieffion of it to be
returned when the detachment had* reached
Chatterpore*

At this juncture z letter was received froiill
the prefident and council of Bombay, with
dirediorti for the detachment to halt until

further

r

OF BOMB AY. aa^

further orders, wuhouJ meot'iaiung any rea-
fon for fo unej^^ed a «ie^vr^ : advices o£
this, with an aqcoumt of the agreement, fcl-
Ipwed thofe of th^ ikirmiih which had beea
coEgiiimAipated hy Colaiel Leflie tp the Su-
pr^cxie Cpyncih He ioforiped them at the
fsflie tiipe, that a« the ground about Culpee?
woujd not admit of a» encgimpna€i^>t^ without
great iucowvenience, he would move about
t^ewty ipile3 further to the bank^ of the
ftetjwrajb Nullah, a good (ituation, on the froa-
tier§ of the Booudelcbund couatry, where h^
wo^ld wait their further directions.

- /

i

The Spprem^e Council had in the begia*
ing of M^y received letters from Bombay ^nd
pQQpgh, relating the revolutions in that Dur*
bar, when Mprabah and the other chiefs had
ia all likelihood overturned Nanah and Sac-
caram, and become the mafters of that go-
Vernqaent, and afterwards had come to ant
agreenjent with <^bem as before related. The
Bombay council in their letters lamented that
th^y ihould have fo little (hare in the refto-
rstipfi of i^agobahi and that it fhould appeaf
it could be e^eifted without their afSftance*
Thefe letters g^ve ogcafion to debates ; a con-
^}^H wa& drawn from tl)e<n» that the re-

eflabliihment

L

424 A i^ A c'C d u isr *r

eflabliihment of Ragobah was aftually effiefl-
cd, which event muft totally defeat any
fchemes the French might have formed, and
put an end to the negotiations of Nanahwith
them, whereby the further progrefs of the
detachment became unneceffary. It was there-
fore propofed, that orders (hould be fent to
Colonel Leflie to fufpend his march^ or if he
had proceeded in it, to return to Culpee.
But upon confideration that it did ilot from
thofe letters appear that the affairs of the
company in that part of India were in fuch
fecurity as not to require aid, but on the
contrary that the connexions of the French
with the Mahratta Durbar were yet ftibfift-
ing, St. Lubin ftill refiding at Pooniah, and
the veflel which brought him into that coun-
try, arid had been freighted for China ac-*
corapariying General Belcombe inftead of pur-
fuing that voyage, being a ftrong pioof that
he had entered into the defign, and probably
had gone himfelf to conduft or forward the
negotiation; nor did the revolution appear
certain, pnd if it was completed without
the aid of the^ Bombay council, the fettle-
ment could not be permanent j Ragobah
could never truft his perfon to his
new partifans^ formerly his enemies and

betrayers }

OF BOMBAY. 225

betrayers ;. hor could he reft fatisfied by. the
compromife made with Nanah who by his
connexion with Hurry Furkia, the comman-
der of the forces; muft have an irrefiftible
fway, he therefore would tnift rio friend but
the Bombay council, who had ever been
zealous in his caufe; nor would he venture
to Poonah without the affiftance of an Englifh
military force, which to obtain, he muft
grant their conditions. It was proper that
they (hbuld have it in their power to a6t fb
confpicuous a part and to keep up to it.
The reinforcement would give that, power,
and the very idea of it might already have
had Ibme effeft in the tranfadlions at Poonah ;
ill fuch a crifis, to recall the detachment
would alarm friends and encourage enemies :
upon the whole, if the fervice of it fliould not
be wanted, nothing would have been loft by
its not having marched, and it might be ea-
fily recalled ; but if once withdrawn, and
its aid afterwards ihould be required, it would
be too late to afford it. The expectation of
Indoftan demanded the profecution of this
meafure. On thefe confiderations it was de-
termined the detachment fliould proceed.

P Colonel

V

426 AN ACCOITNT

Colonel Leflie's letter of the loth of May,
giving an account of his paffage, and the
Ikirmifhes he had fuftained, occafioned freih
debates in the council. From the oppofition
of the two chiefs at Culpee it was concluded
that the whole march would be thus inter-
rupted, and that, in prudence, the army
Ihould proceed no further, at leaft till the
rains were over, as its fafety (on which that
of Bengal depended) was hazarded by fuch a
march from one fide of India to *the other in
fo unfavourable a feafon, and in the face of
an enemy determined to oppofe it, who, with-
out ever coming to an engagement, might
diftrefs, harrafs, and ruin them. It was on
the other hand confidered that the diftriSs
which depended on the chiefs who had com-
mitted hoftilities, extended but a (hort dif-
tance from Culpee, that one week wouW j
bring them to Boondelchuiid, whofe chief !
was not fubjed to the Mahratta empire;
the route thence was through Bapaul, whofe
chief, a Patan, though he paid the Chout, {
jowned no dependance on Poonah ; that the ;
reft of the way lay through the dominions of
Mddagee, whofe poWer was great, and friend-
ihip certain. As to rains, experience had
Ihewn that the weather being cooled hy

them

i

ihem is iflore'fivourable, afid befides tiunhg
that ieafdii they Wauld be lefs expofed to at-
tacks of Cavalry. It was determined to
write to Golonel L^flie, apprdving his crdii-
du£t, warning him to beware of treachery,
and not to be induced by any fair appeaf-
'abce to relax in the condiifl: he had propofed
toWartis the chiefs of the countries he was to
psifs thrctigh ; arid ^ireflting that he (hould
give fidtice to Mn Mdftyn, the refident *ac
Poonah, of his proceedings^ arid all fuch oc-
C\iretices is tnight require eixplanation td
that Durbar, or the iriterpofition of their
authority to prevent future interruptions to
his iiiarch. At the fame time letters were
written to the Paifhwa, giving a detail of
what had happened at the paffage of Jumna,
declaring a belief that theie hdftilities were
liot committed by *ahy authority from him
or his minifters, as they could not have
jirilen from thdfe who were on terms of
friendftiip with the Englifli ; that the necef-
fity of felf*defence had occafioned the fending .
the detachment, but the mdft regular difci-
pline and friendly conduft had been rccom-
metided to the commander ; and it was re-
f[^\aefted that fuch injtnidlions might be iffucd
; to the dffiters of that government as woul4

Pa in

228 A N A C C O U N T

in future prevent efFedlually any thing of the
like nature. Mr. Moftyn was apprized of
thefe letters, and direSed to a£t in confe-
quence, and regularly to correlpond with
Colonel Leflie.

The advice of the order to flopping the
march of the detachment, by the Bombay
council, was about the fame time received
from Colonel Leflie and that prcfidency. The
other part of their letter gave an account of
the continuation of the uncertainty in the
Poonah Durbar, and the imperfeft ftate of
Ragobah's affairs there ; that General Bel-
combe had returned to Pondicherry ; that
the (hip Sartine had landed military ftores,
which were for the fervice of Hyder Ally;
and that the French were deterred from pro-
CQeding to Choul by the appearance of the
Engliih fquadron. Thefe advices were a-
ground for a motion in the Supreme Coun-
cil,* that the detachment fhould be recalled to
the Bengal fide of the Jumna, for to flay in
j^n enemies country expofed the army to
dangers produiftiveofhoftilities, which might
bring on a general war, and if they remained
in Boondelchund, that country mufl: be ruined.
It was infifted that the principal reafon hi-
therto

.i..-ji_

J

OF BOMBAY. 229

therto alledged for this meafure, which was
the efFedt of French negotiation with the
Mahrattas was vaniflied; for General Bel-
combe having fent a Ihip with warlike ftores
to Hyder Ally, who was aftually at war
with the Mahrattas, how could French in-
trigue, if it ever had exifted, have any effedi ?
On the other hand it was argued, that being
but thirty or forty kofs from the borders of
Owde, the army was equally lafe and ready
either for defence or attack ; and that upon
confidering the whole context of that part of
the Bombay letter which related to General
Belcombe, it was evident that the French were
deterred from proceeding to Choul, by th^r
appearance of our fquadron. That Mr. Mof-
tyji's letter mentioned St. Lubin being ftill.
at Poonah, favoured with the fame counte-
nance, notwithftanding Mr, Moftyn'^ remon-
ftrance. It was therefore plain that the fame
caufe exifted, and there was the fame danger
from its confequence. On thefe reafons Co-
lonel Leflie's intention of moving to the Bet-
wah river for bis encampment was approved,
and he was prohibited from moving further
until he (hould receive orders to that efFeft.
The council direded the officer commanding

P 3 at

«,3t^. A N Ai.eC.O U NT?

lathCulpe^, to rffaiifli the ppflffifofi of It ujitil
further oxders^ t

Terms qF agreej^ient baying heeii fiiialljr
arfj^fted betw^ii^.Golpnel Lefli^, and thetjvqj
chiefs, orders were given for the qiarch o|
fhe firftdivifioftjoonfiflingof thefirft, fourth,,
apd fey CAth, battalions of fepoys, who fet owt
at two. Q'clock. iQ th^ morning, on t|>e ad of
Juue^ froRp Culpqe^ For the firft fyfc miles ^
the march was.. much iRipeded by the narfcxw-
^efs of the rpad^ and the very unejven iMro^en,
ground of the couQtry, the face of >vhich
exhibited a mpft fogplgr appj?ajrance, b^in^
thickly iat^rfpjerfed with hillpc|c5 of concur ,
in which neither ihrub, pr blade qf grafs ws^s
to he feen. la the. language of the count;ry.
ponckar literally trar^flated means ciiider. The
matter of which thefe hillocks v^ere compofed,
feemed rathc^r of that kind which we term
fcoria^ fomething li|ce what, is thrown out of
farnaces in which iron. ore is fmplted; the
difficulties arifing froni the nature of groundjj^
were increafed by thp extrem^e heat of the
weather, and a want of water. At fevea
in the morning they came to a well, which
was unfortunately filled up; at nine, twp
yjUagep a little way to the right and left on

the

OF BOMBAY. 23 1

th^Iine of march, gave hopes of relief, but
the quantity that could be got from, thence
was fo fmall, and the eagernefs of the troops
fo great, that it proved of little benefit. At
a quarter after eleven they at length reached
the village of Murgong, where they found a
fupply from (even or eight wells, which had
not been filled up. The diftance from Cul--
pee to that place was not more than fixteen
miles. It is to be feared that thefe difficul-
ties proceeded from want of attention, and
not having taken even common precautions
to prevent them. Fortunately this error did
not prove fo fatal as it was at firft feared ;
only twenty fepoys, and about as many of
the followers of the army, funk under the
fatigue ; a number of European ofl[icers fick-
enedj^ but all recovered. Captain Crawford
excepted, who commanded the fourth batta-
lion of fepoys, whofe lofs was great, and uni'-
verfally lamented.

On the 5 th of June Colonel Leflie re^
ceived letters from Bombay, countermanding
the orders before given by them for the halt
of the detachment, thefe were dated the 4th-
of May ; in confequence he refum^d his
march after a few days reft.

P4 Thf

232 AV ACCOUNT

The notice of thl? countermand was aiif
liounced at Calcutta at the fame time that the
relation of the march frotn Culpee was re-
ceived from the Army ; this had been pre-
ceded by private letters, which reprefentcd
the evils attending it, beyond the' reality;
thefe gave a gloom to the appearance of
things, which was heightened to defpondency
by the news of the misfortune of the Britiih
arms at Saratoga ; a propofal was made in
. council to recall the detachment, but it was
not prefled, and the meafure continued. A
caution \yas given to Colonel Leflie to avoid
the route through Malva, where lay the
country of Sindia, whofe fincerity there was
rooiji to doubt of, and to proceed directly
through Berar, unlefs Modagee (hould refufe,
-which' was moft unlikely ; on the contrary,
there was reafon even to certainty to rely on
a friendly reception from him, and beiides in
in cafe of a nccelfity of recalling the detach-
ment, they would, in that country be within
the reach of orders. Soon after, upon the
news of war commenced with France, orders
were lent not to pafs beyond that' province
till further inftru£bions (hould be received
from the Supreme Counah

Do

V. {*

O F B O M iAY- a^j

On the 8th of June the firft divlfion of
the detachment marched to Jetalpooi*, where
the whole joined on the 15th, This is a
well-built town, it is iituated on the Ibuthr
weft bank of the Bet wah Nullah, a pleaf-
ing river, whofe water, perfejftly clear, runs
over a bed of gravel, the depth about two
feet only, though the banks are remarkably
high. It take^ its rife from a lake called
Saugree, and after a courfe of about one
hundred and lixty miles, empties itfelf into
the Jumna, near Bibbipour; the country
through which the army pafled, was open,
and the roads good, but no trees were feen
in it. On the i6th, the whole army
marched towards Chatterpoore.

Notwlthftanding the agreenstent entered
into between Colonel Leflie and the two
chiefs, before the march from Culpeft, he
had caufe to fufpecl duplicity ; a backward*
nefs to fulfill the terms appeared in their
whole conduit, and fubfequent events (hewed
that the offers made by Ballagee were meant
to deceive. The principal Rajah of BoondeK
chund was Amroud Sing, who was of the
age of fifteen, and had upon the death of
his father, about iix year^ before, been by

the

,^ AN JUfPQ^qVNiT

thp qftOtf iKaqpe; o£ t^e minifters of that prince
J^jYSW^d tp thp fucqeflion whicb they wreil-
(qd from his cldex brother Sunret Sing, aS;
wfiM z§ ^11 th? treafure. This junto now
gQVef jie4 that qou^try, with them Ballagee
hadj great, iptereft, a^d he exerted all his in-
fluence to,th?: prejudice of the Englifti, re-
pf efeating them , a$ attached tp. Sunret, and
Wing ^.4efign to pla^e hi;n in tl^e Raja-
Shxf^ Siuiret hftd not lain quiet; he had;
a. CQpfidfifahlft n^umber of inen ii^, his fpr-
vjige,, ajad had ipade feveral efforts « tp recover.
l)is rights, which to th^t time h^d. b?ea un-

On the 2 2dj the djP.tachmentfhad a^yan<je4
to Rheat, twenty- four miles diftant from
JeJtalpoor, Though Colonel L^efli? had not
-ijiet with, any ob/lyuftion, his fufpicion of
the iotentipng of the Bopndelchund chiefs
obliged hi<W;t9 m>Yp \Yith great cautipn, be-
lides. which the irjtenfenffs of the heat occa-*
fioned: fome flownefs. About the 20th of
June, on the eaft fide of the Belah, the. ther-»
paonaeter rofe to^ioz degrees, and, on the
well: fide to. 1.07 and a half: and frpm the
middle of May it was not ever Ipwer than
§3 donees, Xhi§ wade the. night? very dif?

greeable^

O E B O.MB.AY. 435

^gfeeabi^f ^s the ufual retnpdy of wettimg
the outfid^ ^f:t^^. ^ent C0u}d no|: at,tha( jUine
be ufed *.

Colonel Leflie had now recisived letters
frgoi Mr. Moftyn, who then was at Poor
nah? inclofiog pafiports, and oixlers for z£f,
fif^aQce from Holcar and Sindia in his march.
t|iro\jgh their refpediye territories ; but he
h^d alfo received advices of a force being
cpllefted between Chatterpoore and Poonalj-
op the banks of the river Cane, where they:
bad taken po^ under the coiiimand of their,
feveral chiefs Ballagee, Amroud Sing/ an(|
others, but with whap intention was not
known.

The troop? moved frpm Rheat on the
?4th, and the 2 7th reaphed Seerenagur, forty-
four miles diftant, a well-built fort of ftone,
fituated on a commanding height^ They
made halt here till the i ft of July, when
they moved to Mulherra fix miles from

* Tbefe heats are during the reigQ of the land winds.
A duninutpn of.tbem is obtained by keeping tbe outfide
of the tent continually wet. Liquors are copied by. wrap-
ping a wet napkin round the bottle; and hanging it m
the wind : it is remarkable that when the cooling wind^
Uqpsv this method hath not the famq ctk£i,

ph^tter?

i^&ALm.

1^6 AN ACCOUNT

Chatterpoore. Here a meflenger came from
Amroud Sing with offers to fupply provi-
fions, if the detachment would take the route
he fhould direft, which was towards the
iame partS; of the country as had been recom-
iijendpd by Ballagee, and he concluded by fay-
ing,, they muft not pafs through Chatterpoore.
The troops halted one day, to .give time for
an anfwer tp this meflage, which confifted
in repeate4 declarations of peaceable inten-
tions, and of the attention that fhould be
had Jo the fafety and prote(9:ipn of the inha-
bitants, but that the troops could march by
l^p other rpad than Chatterpoore,

On the 3d the army marched to Chat-
terpoore, and encijmped fouthward of the
town, between two hills, having that town
in the rear, the town of Mow three cpfs to
the weftward, and Rajah Gur about feven to
^he eaftwgrd. The place was found aban-
doned by all bijt very few inhabitants, fome
of whom were merchants. Three heavy
contributions had been laid, and partly col-
lefted from the people, for the purpofe of
oppofing the parch ; and that the Englifli
Ihould not procure any aid there, feveral of

the richeft merchants had been fent in irons

to

J

OF B 6 M B A Y. 237

V

to Rajah Gur, and all were ordered ta quit
the place on pain of the moft fevere nailitaiy
execution.

This hoftile appearance confirmed the in-
telligence Colonel Leflie received of the dif-
pofition of the troops in that diftridl under
their feveral leaders; a party of 700 ca-
valry, 2000 infantry, with nine pieces of
artillery were poftcd at Mow, under the
command of Hamet Cawn, who was joined
by Gudd Sing with his force, and was with
the utmoft diligence repairing and adding to
the fortifications of that place ; on the road
to Rajah Gur, about fix miles on this fide,
they had an advanced guard, and had made
a fence acrofs the road for their lecurity ;
thefe were fupported by a party of a thou-
land horfe, and as many foot, polled near
the fort of Rajah Gur on the weft fide of it,
under the command of three chiefs ; be-
tween Rajah Gur and the river Cane Balla-
gee was ftationed with another body of ca-
valry and infantry ; and on the other fide of <
the river, at the bottom of the hills oppofite
to a pafs . four miles from the river, and fix
from Pennah, Rajah Amroud Sing had taken
poft with, 500 cavalry, 4000 infantry, and

twenty

i^i A ^ A'C-C <> tJ Nt

a

twenty pieces of cannon; orders Had bfeeii
lent to the villages round, forbidding the in-
habitants to fupply the convoy with provi-*
fions on pain of death ; the few remaining
merchants were ordered to fell off tlieir ef-*
feds, and remit the money to the Rajah^
and then to leave the town immediately. In
this fituation, on the fourth of July, an-
fwers were received from Ballagee -and Ain-
roud Sing; that from Amroud plainly ap-
peared diftated by the former, and meant
Only to gain time and amufe till every thirig
was ready for aft effeftual oppofition : -is for
his own it threw off the malk; in a ftile of
contemptiiand indifference, he wr6te that the
detachment might march what road it pieafed ;
at the fame time he declared to his officers/
that he had written lb> but that he wotild
die on the fpot rather than fuffer it to pafs
by Sagur, which was the only road now
left, unlefs they retreated and took the route
by Janfy, which would have favdured the
delignsof the two Rajahs, andfoi" that pur-
pofe had been recommended by Amroud in
the laft latter fent by him*

At this jimfture two Rajahs of BoondttU
chund, Gomman ' Sing and Gomman Sing^

fent

OP BOMBAY. ^39

lent their Vaqueels to Colonel Leflie : they
had formierly been difpoffefled of foixie of their
territory by the family of Gtidd Sing. Balll-
gee had fummoned them to meet him, in
coniidcration of which he promifed a reftora-
tion of this territory, but being tardy iii
the execution of this prbmife, th^y with-
held their aid, and now folicited alliance
to gain the Englifli protection, offering
plenty of grain which the villages around
abounded with, and defired fafeguard : Rajah
Sunret Sing brother of Amroud made the
like offers of fupplying provifions, and with
the fame requeft of fafeguards; and this
chiefs Vaqueel having prefled that his mafter
fhould join the Eng^ifh army, Colonel Leflie,
that he might by that means not only have
an increafe of afliftance, but to fecure Gom-
-man andComman Sing who were very much
attached to him, wrote to him defiring him
to join, and fafeguards were fent to feveral
villages belonging to thofe Rajahs; but they
Vere immediately driven away by a party
from the garrilbn of Mow^ who, not con-
tented with this infult, drove off three hun-
dred bullocks loaded with grain for the
camp, forae of the baggage camels, and
wouixded many of the fervants and foUov^ers

of

r^

J ; «

146 A N A C € O U N T

of the army. The Candaharian cavalfyw€re
immediately detached, and came up in time
to refcue the greateff part of the plunder
taken.

It was now plain why Ballagee had re-
commended the march through Mow, and
that the fcheme was laid to purfue every
means of annoying the detachment, and that
all the moderation hitherto (hewn was with-
out fuccefs; notwithftanding which, and
thele repeated afts of violence^ to avoid the
imputation of having begun hofiilities, Co-
lonel Lellie determined to wait for an an-
fwer to his laft reprefentations before he be-
gun to aft. But intelligence was now
brought to him, that Ibme parties had got
into his rear, on the road he had marchedj
with an intention of cutting off his commu-
nication with Culpee. iThis was too foon
verified, by advices received that Captaia
Monro, coming up with a fmall party to join,
the camp^ had been attacked, and after mak-
ing as gallant a refiftance as poffible, had
been grievoufly wounded, moft of his party
killed, all his own, and fome baggage belong-
ing to the army, plundered and taken. The
Caudahari^ horfe, and four cpmpanies of

fepoys,

d F' B b M B A Y. 241

lepoys, with a furgeon, were immediately
Hetached im hopes of being in time to fave
htm, but in vain. He had been left for
ciead in the field ; Kiit a Braniin feeing Ibme
remains of .life in him, had given him re-
jFuge in a little fort neat the place of a£tioii,
where he reiriairied for two days ; at the end
of which fome of thefe barbarians returned ^
forced hini frorii the Brartiin, arid in cold
blood butchered hini in an adjoining wood;
His iervant, who had efcaped, brought this
melancholy account of his mafter's fate to
ihis detachment which he met on the road^
ind which lidw retiirn&d to camp: While
they related this cataftrdphe, advice was
brought that a party from Mow had driven
off all the cattle for carHage belcMiging to the
army that were grazing at fbriie diftance^
The picquets of the line, and all thfe cavalry ^
were jent in purfuit } they ibon came up
Ivith the plunderers, ^lid recovered the cattle.

Colonel Leflie, finding how unavailing
all his representations had proved for redrefs
of outrages^ determined to repel them by
force, and to diflodge the party under Ha*
met Cawn from Mow. Colonel Goddard
was appointed for this fervice, with the fifths

Q^ fixth,

242 AN ACCOUNT

fixth, and feventh battalion of iepoys, their
artillery, and two twelve pounders* The
ferment of cavalry under the Command of
Captain Afh marched in the rear, and the
Candaharian horfe were divided in front and
on the flanks, at half a mile's diftance, to
reconnoitre the country, and prevent the
enemy from receiving any intelligence of the
party's approach • The road was found much
broken up, andworfe than had been reported :
this, with a heavy fall of rain, fomewhat
retarded the march, infomuch that daylight
appeared when the troops were yet a mile
diftant from the place. .

Lieutenant Colonel Parker, who led the line,
direfted Lieutenant Lucas to take pofleffion
of a mofque on the right, which was imme-
diately executed, under the fire of' the enemy.
From this place they had a full view of
the townj which flood upon very irregular
ground afcending and defcending ; it was
walled round and encompafled by a rampart
and breaft-work, in thefe there were breaches,
and one particularly through which ran the
road. The rampart was commanded by
high ground behind, being within reach of
mulketry: on thefe hills the enemy had

pofted

d F g 6 M B A Y; 245

pofted troops, and on a hill oppofite the
breach, through which the road ran, there
Was a piece of artillery.

A large tank of water lay on the right of
that breach, and extended along the fide of
the road ; this, together with hills on the
left, formed the pafs which led to the en-
trance of the town : the difficulty of the ap-
proach through this was incteafed by hills in
front.

Coldhel Goddard with the advailcied guard
inarched up the road to attack the breach,
which he entered under a heavy fire, and par-
ticularly from the piece of artillery oppofite
to it, which was very well ferved. One of
the tumbrils happening to flick in the breach ^
ibme of the troops perceiving another open-
ing towards the left^ which led to a hill 011
that fide^ filed off, and gained the hill after
ibme reliftance ; the other part of the troops
were obliged, by the tumbril flicking yet in
the way, to get through the breach by the
Indian file * : three companies of the feventh

were ordered to attack the heights ; the re*-

•
* Man by man fingly.

0^2 mainder

\

ts44 A N A C C O U N T

mainder of the troops, as they arrived, form*
ing and fupporting them ; after much dif-
ficulty from a (harp refiftance, and the
nature of the ground, which often obliged
them to crawl on hands and feet, they fuc-
ceeded, having driven off thofe who were
pofted there ; by this the accefs to the town
was free.

Before this could be effefted. Colonel
Goddard had puflied on to fecond the attack^
by forcing the pafs, where he fuftained a
very heavy fire, and had his horfe (hot under
him in two places : however he forced his
way through the town in purfuit of the fly-
ing enemy ; he had not advanced five hundred
yards, when another range of hills prefeqted
them(elves, on which the enemy appeared
with (bme cannon. They were (bon di(^
lodged and fled over the plain. The Can-
daharian cavalry had unluckily loft their
way and were not of any fervice in the.
purfuit, which fell to the (hare of the re-
giment of cavalry, and would have hGtn
more efieftual had the others come up/
On the fide of the Englifib the lofs was ia-
confiderable, being only about fix (epoys
killed and nineteen wounded ; the enemy

fuffered

O P B O M B A Y- 245

iMkvod very confiderably. Colonel Goddard
took pofi^ili^n of fhe plac^ with jaLnc pieces
of cannon, with ipme tumbrils, Acres, and
ammunition : the troops behaved with great
ipirit and refblutiQt). Thi$ blow had the moft
fortunate eSed:. Ballagee, AmroudSing, and
the other chiefs called in all their parties,
CfoiTed the river Cane, and took poft with
their whole force colle<fted on the other
fide, nearly oppoiite to Rajah Gur. Biy this
retreat the country round Chatterpoore re-
mained undifturbed, and the can^p was plen-
tifully fupplied with provifions*. Defer-

* The return of the troops compoGag the detachment,
with their fervaats and followers^ fent by Colpad Leflie
ftOffn Chatterpoore,

Cavalry i ft regiment
Artillery 8th company
Infantry 6 battalions
Head quarters and?
brigade ftafF 3
Nabob cavalry
With the field engineer

Grand total

The Bazars or markets, with their neceflary attendants
for procuring the fupplies of provifionSji are not included
in this ; they are eftimated at 1 2|000.

As there hath been no want of provlfion during the
whole march, the nature of the country may be judged of
from this return^ as well as that of an Indian army.

0^3 tians

Commif.
Offioeri.

8

10

70

Troops.

526

634
4964

SiBrvants and
followers.

1932

3200

10876

Total.
2466

3«44
15910

IS

iS<3

1578

500

1700
508

2200
508

\°3

6624

^9779

26506

24-6 A N A C C O tJ N T'

lions, which happened about this time, made
an example of feverity neceffary : the exe-
cution of one fepoy only prevented the evil
from increafing. Shortly after the fourth
and fixth battalions of fepoys demanded in
an irregular manner, an increafe of allow-
ance, oh account as they pretended of the
high price of provifions : thofe who ap-
peared moft forward were immediately con-
fined ; the battalions were ordered under
arms, and on the reprefentations of Colonel
Gpddard, who was fent to them, all appear-
ance of difcontent ceafed ; and after making
proper fubmiffion for the irregularity of their
application, they remained perfeftly fatif-
fied to wait the decifion of the Supreme
Council, before whom their claims were to
be laid. The anfwer from them was a pe-
remptory fpirited refufal, which had all the
effeft that could be defired, as the demand
was never after renewed.

The army had now remained inaftjve
and undifturbed fince the i oth of July ;
during that period nothing material appears
to have occurred ; the letters from Colonel
Leflie to Calcutta contain only a de-
tail of negotiations with Amroud Sing, be-
gun.

OF BOMBAY, 247

gun, broken off, and renewed, and a men-
tion of fonae obftrudions to his march, from
the rains and the fwelling of the rivers and
Nullahs thereby, withgut any other reafoa
given for this delay.

On the 1 3th of Auguft, the Rajahs Gomr
mon and Comman Sing, who had fo early
offered their lervice, withdrew from the
camp with their forces during the nigh(,
without having given any previous notice of
their intentions. This fudden defedion was
loon found to be owing to the intrigues of
Amroud Sing ; letters which the elder bro^
ther Sunret Sing had intercepted and com«i-
municated to Colonel Leflie difcovered this :
he thereupon determined to march towards
Rajah Gur, propofing thereto qrofs the ri-
ver, and force Amroud Sing either to come to
an engagement, or retire. Orders were given
for the artillery taken at Mow to be deftroy-
ed, and for the detachment left there to join
the army, which was efFeded on the 1 4th.

This long halt at Chatterpoore was unac-
countable. Colonel Leflie had been repeatedly
warned by the Supreme Council againft tak-
iwg p^rt in the quarrels which the princes

0^4 01

i^.

24? AN A C C Q UN T

or chieft of thofe pountries through wfeicl^
he was to pafs might have in their families,
tind therefore ought not to have been de-
r| tained by any propofal made by Sunret Sing,
; ' or other chiefs to obtain his affiftance againft
h Amroud Sing : yet this feems to have been
[l the only obje6t in his view during that pe-
• riod. The fuppoiition moft fevourabk tq
him was, that after the unprovoked enmity
ihewn by Amroud it might feem pqlitic to
encourage the offer of friendihip of a compe-
titor, which ftep, by intimidating the Rajah,
might change his meafures, and infure ibp*
plies of provifion. If his motive went fur*
, ther he was guilty of pofitive difobcdience :
in this uncertainty the Supreme Council fu-
fpended their decifipn upon this part of his
conduft, fo little anfwering their expefta*'
tions.

On the, 1 5th of Auguft the ^rmy began
jtheir march tdwards Rajdh Gur, which they
reached on the 1 7th, the diftance is about
twenty miles from Chatterpoore, Rajah
Gur is an antient palace furrounded with
high wajls, handfomely ornamented within
'and without, fituated on the fide of an high

hill, two miles from the river Cane, a large

town

OF BOMBAY. 249

fown fpfeading itlelf oil a plain to the fouth-

eaft of the hilL

♦ 'I * ■■

V t ' . ■ \ . ^

f

Colonel Leflie, with the quarter-maftcr
general^ and the advanced guard, went to
view the ground for an encampment as near
83 ppflible to the river. Upon their appear-
ance the enemy of the oppofite fide began to
fire fmartly from fixf or feven pieces of can-
poa ; but without any effeft, as the troops
yvere foon covercjd by the advantage of a hoi-
low yvay. Orders were immediately fent to
bring up two twelve, two fix pounders, and
a howitz : as foon as thefe were placed the
jpaniionade was returned, and a few carcafles
thrown from the howitz fet fire to the huts,
which were loon confumed, aijd obliged the
enemy to remove to a greater difl:ance : ground
for the encampment was then taken, out of
the reach of their artillery. The river Cane
is here very rapid, full of rocks, large ftones,
and flumps of trees ; in the time of the rains
it is about fix hundred yards wide, but a few
days of fair weather makes it fordable in fc-
veral places.

While Colonel Lellie was making neceA

fary preparations for the paflage of the river,

' ' terms

250 A N A C C O U N T

terms of accommodation as ufual were pro«
pofed by Amroud Sing, a negotiation entered
into, and hopes entertained that the diiputes
between the two brothers would be fpeedily
and finally adjufted. But on the 31ft intel-
ligence was received that a detachment of
about 3iooo cavalry and infantry, having
crofled the river, under the command of a
chief called Puddam Sing, had marched into
the rear, with an intention of cutting oflf
the communication with Chatterpoore, which
}ie threatened to plunder, if any thing was
fufFered to pafs through, or was fent from
thence to the Englifli army, and had feized
three or four hundred bullocks loaded with
grain coming to the canip^

On the I ft of September Captain Popham
was detached after him with his battalion of
fepoys, ?heir artillery, and the Candaharian
cavalry. In the evening he got intelligence
pf the enemy's fitu^tion ; and early the next
morning, leaving the battalion with their
artillery to follpw >vith a^s much expedition
as poffible, he advanced writh the grenadiers
and cavalry. About noon he came in fight
of the enemy, whom he found drawn up,
and prepared to receive him ; they had dif*

pofed

OF BOMB AY, 251

pofed of their cavalry on their right, and
their left, which was compoied of their in-
fantry was covered by a Nullah, and' a copfe
of thick underwood. Captain Popham di-
vided his cavalry on the right and left of his
grenadiers, ^yho formed the center, and. with
whom he advanced brilkly on the enemy,
receiving their fire, and referving his until
he came clofe to their line, when it was
poured in and repeated with fuch efFeft that
they broke ; they were purfued with great
flaughter for Ibme miles by the Candaharian
horfe. Among the flain twenty- four of the
.enemy were fpund on the fpot wh?re they
received the firft volley. The lofs on our
fide was one grenadicf killed, four wounded,
and . of the cavalry, two killed, and four
wounded. Some of the enqmy retreated tp
a fort called Gurgunge, which they aban-
doned in the night ; Lieutenant Tifdale was
wounded in reconnoitring it. Captain Pop-
ham was ordered tq remain in that, neigh-
bourhood to watch the motions of the enemy,
who feemed to be again aflembling.

A little before this the pofjeffion of Culpce
J)eing now no longer thought neceflary, it
W4S by qrcjer pf the Supreme Council given

352 A N A C C O U N T

vp, and the Engliih guard withdrawn : this
^ feemed for a little {pace to have reconciled
Ballagee ; but the impediments thrown in
the way of the detachment (hewed his infin-
cejfity, and how little was to be expe<5ted
from any negotiation with him, or with any
of the chiefs under his influence ; as Am-
roud Sing's nainifters were foy it was vain
to hppe that he would conclude any efieftual
treaty, efpecially when one of the terms re-
quired was a provifion for his elder brother,
by yielding him a part of his dominion^ yet
he continually fent meiTages of accommo^
dation. It wa? plain th? etid fought was
delay, this was ieen through, but the de-
lay muft have taken place from the great
rain which (welled the river, and made
it neceflfary to provide boats and rafts for
the pafi'age, and even then Colonel Leflie
thought the rapidity wasf fucB, that he waited
a day or two longer. He now received let-
ters from the Rajah of Bcrar Moodagee
B ofla, prefling his march to the Nerbuddah|
containing the moft friendly offers, and in-
forming him that he had fent a perfon of
Confidence to meet him on the banks of that
river, where he would find every thing pre-
pared for his pre(ent occafions, and that fu-
ture accommodations (hould be furni(hed

through

OF BOMBAY. 253

through his dominions. In the fame letter
Moodagee cxprefled with warmth the great
fatisfaftion he felt in the hopes of foon
ieeing Mr. Elliott, who was then on the
road to Berar : but unfortunately the public
were deprived of his fervices and abilities at
this critical jun<£lure.

[ He was feized on the 4th of September by
a bilious fever^ and inflammation of the liver^
which from the beginning had mortal
fymptoms. The firft account of his illnefs
was written by Mr. Farquhar his fecretary }
this letter was dated on the bank of a Nul-
lah^ two cofs to the caftward of Serinagur,

[ the pth of September : from the fanie place

a letter of the 1 3th, gave the melandioly

LM account of his death ; thefe advices were re-^

/ ceived at Calcutta the^th of Odober. Some-
thing of the character of this excellent man
hath been already mentioned : much was
expelled from his parts and talents cultivated
with unremitted diligence before he went to
India, but as if the approach to the fun had
brightened the flame of genius, he appeared
fit for anjr undertaking, almofl immediately
after h'*s arrival there. This could hot efcape
Mr^ Haftings who cherifhed and truftcd him ;

during

\

154- AN A c c a U N "r

during a fhort refidency in Europe in the
year 1776 his penetrationf, fagacity, and
difcretion anfwered fully his friend's expeda-
tions, who fotind the efFeft of them it his
return^

About the fame time as the letters froiri
Moodagee were received, there came fbmefrom
the Nabob of Bopaul, through whofe territories
the route of the detachment lay in the xVay
to the Nerbuddah : they were in the mbft
friendly ftrain. Advice of thefe letters wa^
fent by Colonel Leflle, who at the fame
time mentioned the conclufion of treaties
in his own name, and that of the Company
with the feveral Boondelchund chiefs, the ne-^
gotiation for which had lafted fb long ; yet
he was fufpicious of Ballagee through whafe
territory he was to pafs.

The death of Mr. Elliot was of the mbft
fatal confequence, there was not any perfort
who could well fupply his place, he pofleffed
the entire confidence of the governor general,
and was looked on in that light by Moodargee;
a few days would have brought him to His
court, where every thing might have been
fettled before the arrival of the detachment.

Now-

OF BOMBAY. 25$

Now a length of time muft have pafled.be-
fore another perfbn could be properly in-
ftrudted and reach Berar.

The paft conduct of Colonel Leflie, on #.
ivhom this negociation muft immediately de- /
volve, did not promife great fuccefs ; he had
been from the beginning of April to the
middle of September performing what might
have been done in two weeks, having met
but a trifling refiftance, and no caufe of delay
appearitig, but fettling difputes and making
treaties in the families of the princes through yCj/
whofe country he had paffed, exprefsly con-
trary to repeated inftruftions. The governor
general was greatly embarrafled ; he pro-
posed, after much doubt in his own mind, to
let inatters ftand for fbme time as they were, '
without fubftituting any perfon in the place
of Mn Etiiotj^ and wait to fee what courfe
Moodagee would 1take, and whether he wpuld
renew his application^: all his letters had
fliewn a defire, and even impatience, to enter
upon the bufinefs Mr. El^liot was charged
with ; the reafons which induced him to
foUicit an alliance with the Englifh fub-
fifted ; it was therefore proper at that time
to write to Moodagee, only mentioning the

misfortune

a5<5 AN AccOUNt

V - . - '

tnisfbrtane which had put a ftbp to tHeir
negotiation, and defiring ifor the prefent
his alliftancb fot promoting tHe niircH of
the detachment to its dbftiniation; This oc-
cafiontod a renewal of altercations in the
council t the debates in their confuitadads
extend to whole volumes; Thi§ dinercnce
of opinion arofe from the different priiiJ
ciples on which the miembers reafoncd : thofe
adopted in the beginning of the prefent admi-
tiiftration invariably iafiuenced thb opinians
bf onfe part of it upoii every occifioii ; peace
had beeh recommended Frbm England as the
great objeft, therefore nothing that could
by any means tend to Interrupt it ^as to \)t
admitt&d i confequently the fchemc of ex-
tending their alliance to the differeiit ftatei
of that region was dangerous ; internieddiing

fin their affair^ iipcm any difputes, either in-
ternal or between one ftate and sindther; per-
nicioti^ ; all ads in Confeqtience, difdbedi-
ence td the orders of the Directors ; df courfe
every rbeafure for that purpofe was to be op-
pofed; Oii the other hand the governor
general and Mr. Barwell were of opinion^
that to make the Engfifli nation confiderable^
and give its eftablifliment (lability, it
was neceflary to extend its^ influence ; to

have

I

OF BOMBAY. 2^-7

have couneclions with all the princes of In-
doftan, which ihould make them look up to
it as the preferver of their rfclpeftive indepen-
dence from that power, under whole preflure J
they had groaned fo long. This fyftem hath 1
already been detailed. From this difference
of fyftems rofc a difierence of opinions upon
cveiy political and military matter, not only
on the firft mention of the plan, but on
eafch operation neceflary in the execution of
it. Upon the firft advices from Bombay of
the commoti^ons in the Durbar of Poonah^
the ieconding the deiigns of that council to
take advantage of thole dillraftions was re-«
probated by that part of the council; the
prqjed of fending the detachment acrofs the
peninfula was called impracticable and fruit-
lefs, immoderate in e^cpence, and productive
of vrar with every nation in India ; the al-
liance with Berar, a meafure unneceffaryt
and big with mifchief* Nor was the danger
from French influence^ or the probability of
an attack upon Bombay by an expedition
from the iflands, or other arrangements be-
tween the Mahrattas and that nation, looked
oh as real, the conjectures were on the con-
trary fide : on the other hand, the governor
general grounded his fentiments and formed

R

258 AN A C C O U N-T

his propofed fchemes, not only on : conjefture,
but information which he could depend upotl
[ of the reality of the French minifters defigns,

jj^ From fuch difference of opinion rofe per-

petual altercations: the prefent misfortune
which fufpended the negotiation for an al-
liance with MoQdagee was a ground to fup-
pofe an annihilation of the projeft, and
therefore to objefl: to the letter propofed, and
. to move that the whole fcheme . ihould be
difcontinued. The news received of .^thede-
preffion of Ragobah's party at Poonah, the
fufperifion of aftion at Bombay ^ -without any
communication from them of any future
plan, and above all the fatal delay of the
detachment -having hteix upwards cf four
months from their croffing the Jumna to the
banks of the Cane, were ftrong arguments
for its ' recall ; for as that diftance was not
above one hundred and twenty miles, :at that
rate, in what time was the detacliment likely
to arrive at Bombay ? even excluiive of .any
check or delay to which it might . be expoTed
from oppofition by enemies, it muift be a
twelvemonth : how then could - tbcy ie ufe-
ful againft prefent dangers ? TJieiefore. ad-
mitting it neceffary to firengthen ~ Bombay

-againft

J .

I

I

F ,B,0 MBAX ±59

agamft an invafiou, it remained to4>d proved
uiat the detachment, iii its intended jpdute,
would arrive there in tmie to anfwer the
eiid ' prbpbfed : and it was alledged that a
inore fafe method might be purfued by fend-
ing a detachment of General , Munro*s army
from Madras ; which might be fpared, as the
fate of Poridicherry muft by that^time be de*
cided, by its being taken, or the defign given
over: and if this muft be replaced,* it niiight
' l>e* doiie by the force' iii the northern circars j
^ which agaifi, if neceffary, might be replaced
f^ona.Bfehg9l ; that! mode Was liable to feWer
objedibiis than '^y other, being limple and
la Its execution.

To all this it was anfwered, that although
the death of Mrl Elliot deprived them of the
advantage exploded from his abilities a^d
the' plenitude pf his c6n4miffion, Ibme aavan*,
tage yet remained ; that. the powers of the

, Mahrattas iaud the Decan were to be counter*
pblfed by alliances, which might' disjdin ' the

' dates ' compofihg them, and unite lome ox
th^in to the ' Englifh ; that the int^refts of

^ bengal and Bkliar'naturifiUy led to jfuch an
iinJ6n^;""i&at a'fufperifiohof that alliance <fid
hot annihilate the reafons oh which it was
' •■ R'a" originally

k

260 AN ACCOUNT

originally grounded, or render the marcK of
the detachment unneceflary : that future events
were not to be judged of by paft errors, and
a fuppofition that they would be fufFered to
continue : that the march of the detachment
might have been made frona Culpee to the
banks of the Cane in ten days : that what-
ever fervice the detachment might aft in
hereafter, whether for the reftoration of Ra-
gobah, or in relifting a French invafion, or
be recalled at a future period, the prefent
continuation of its march was proper : that
until the crifis which (hould determine its
ultimate deftiiiatipn, its fituation in Berar
was central to all the Englifli iettlements ;
it might be a check to the Poonah govern-
ment if only meditating, or a defeat to de-
figns, if already formed by them. As to the
propofal of fending troops from Madras, it
was liable to yet more objedlions than had
been urged againft the march from Culpee.
True, that in a right line, the diftance of each
of thofe places from Bombay vvas nearly the
fame ; but the route from Madras muft be
. traced along the coaft tothefouth, znd round
the country of Travancore to Anjeiigo, and
from thence, either by a dangerous navigation
along the Malabar coaft, or continued by

land

OF BOMBAY.. 261

land through the dominions of Hyder Ally ;
whereas the road, from Cujpee deviated but
a little from the right Une, fo that with fu-
perior difficulties the fornier Would exceed it
in lenjgth .almoft one third, befides having
iparches of other troops to replace thofe fo
detached from the Carpatic,

... '

In confequence of thefe arguments it was

refolved that Colonel L^flie Ihould profecute
his march in conjunftion with the troops of
Moodagee, if he. chofe to join the detach-
ment with any, and that he (hould obey the
orders of the prefidency of Bombay for his
deftinatlon ; with a difcretionary power to
fufpend his march after his arrival in Berar,
if Moodagee did not join him with a force,
or if he did not receive^ orders from Bom-
bay : and letjkers were to be written to that
council, informing thera of thefe orders, and
to deiire that either upon their former plan,
if fubfifting, or any new for the reftoration
of Ragobah under the conditions before fti-
pulated, or the neceffity of repelling a French
invafion, which fhould requrre the progrefs
of the detachment, even without the junc-
tion of any other poWer in alliance with
them, in any fuch cafe only to command it

L.

* *■

J

262 AN AC 6 d UNT

to advance. The debates pn^this fubjeft' were
further CQ^tinuedJ^ and. at laft ended laa re-
/olution to recall Colonel LelTie^

. This was notified to him in a letter diated
the 1 5 th of Oftoher, whereJtV they alio dif*
avowed the treaty he ha J niade with die Ra-
jahs of BoondeIclvund,^s, made in direct viola*
tion of their orders, and he was commanded
to deliver over the charge of the detachtoenfr
jto Colonel Qodda^d, or the cmcer next in
command, and to r repair without lofs of time
to Calcutta, to g^ve an account of his con-
duft. Letters were alfo written to Colonel
Goddard, inclpfing: copjtes of the inftruftions
which had been given ta Cplonel Leflie,and
repeating the {everai ifire^ions which had
been given him, as well in rplat^h to hiis
march, aud the orders of the Bombay coun-
(ul, as tp his tranfadlions with the Kajah of
JBerar, and a particular . iniunftlon to recall
any detachmenl: that jfhoiild have been made
from the main body, ?ind . tQ keep tho
whole together,

r

Colonel llieflie's death ha^,. before this,
put an end to all enquiries ; h^ had at lali^
given orders for the roajrch oa the 2Bth of

Scpterobert

p F RQ-MB AY. 263

Sej^teiiiber, biut an, thast very day he was
foifed bjT a hili<>uS: fever, of which he died^
the 3<1 of 0£);pb6f • Qy this event the com-
mand had already devplved oir Coloiiel^ Ood-
dai]^ ^a»n whofe abilities have ihewh him
cq}iikt(}my undei^takthg* He immediately
g^tef^ticd;of Calomel JUellie*s deaths and his
iotentioii' tb imrch on wijthaU fpSpbU dif-
pateby as .foo9 a$ he ^ipuld, froj^Ee papers
of the deceafedy hav^ ^t infprmatioa of the
intentions of the board relative to that fer-
vhat^ .and^ ^aketi his meafur^s. thereon ; all
which required biit very few days.

Agreeably to thefe promifes the detachment
nurched frqrm Rajah Gur on the 8th, and
oa t^ X 2th axrived at Goorgunge^^ a diflance
c£ tiiAy'ifzvexk miles^ .haying left the coun-
try in perfedl peace, and the Bbondelchund
chiefs profeffing amity towards each other,
atid ie^j^^ and friend^ip to the Englifh na-
tjoni whol^ power in arms they had felt.
Thd army was pki?>tifully fupplied with
every »e«*fl&ry fqr jijts iupport and conve-

Ballagee*s territory begins about Goor-
gjingc, fr9m whence the detachment marched

R 4 * on

a64 AN ' A G C O U N T

on the 1 4th ; on the 1 6th they arrived at
Coutnee Nullah, where they halted two
days. Whilft in this camp, a party of var
gabonds, profeffing to be a religious order^
well known in the eaft by the name
of Pandftrums, about three hundred in
number, got into the rear of the Englifli
army, and drove ofF two elephants, and
fame camels ; this was part of a body of
itwo thoufand who were in the neighbour*
hood. Tliofe banditti are the peft of India,
roving about the country in great bodies,
forpetin^fes begging, -but oftner plundering
and other^ife diftreffing the poor inhabitants.
Four companies of grenadiers, and a party of
cavalry were immediately font after thcfc
pilferers, whom they fooh overtook and re-
povered the plunder, killing about twenty ia
Ithe purfuit. **

*

On the 1 8 th, the troops moved and
reached Heerapour, a march of about &ft
miles only, owing to the difficulties of the
road, and ' of a pafs, which the rear guard,
baggage, and artillery could not get through
jintil the 19th in the evening.

J

-OP BOMBAY-' $6i

• On the 2otb, ayaqu^el came from BalbiT
gee with a propofal to CoIcHiel Goddard no%
to take the intencj^d routie by Sagur, repre?
fenting it would be attended with great loii
and incooveiiicn.ee, as the inhabitants would
abandon the city on.tjbe approach pf the
troops, that there was another road as good,
iand but little, outrof the way, addiqg the
^ftrongeft affutances that if this rcqueft was
{Complied with, the detachment ihould not
fDGtt with the leafl .obftrudion in its march,
|)jit be p^enti^lly fupplied with provifions.

r I

Colonel Goddard, fatisfied t^at bis compli-
ance w^s moft Jikely to fqr^vard the great
jobj^ of the prcfenf iervice, which was dif-
patc)j, ^nd being lyelj ipfornjed that the road
propofed ^yas. ap pradicable, ai>d bpt fourteen
jnilej^ longer, granted this requcft, without
abating any thing of his ufual vigilance anfl
precaution, being ever on his guard againft
jthe defigns of a man whofe charadber w^s
.poiade up qf fraud an4 deceit.

From the time the arpay left Rajah Gur, fo

yhe 2pth of October, the country they had

' to pafs W9s b^roken and mountainous an4 the

roads

L.

266 AN A €C O IFN*T
roads- bad. EvUty ^ttsg tiK>w tegatt' to ■ Wear

igvUr iti Satnt degi«& a(Cd6tn^Mie$ the* t>dityf
f^afen \(^^- vanifii^dj aiid {dl breathed ti»
ipitil! bf thifir giaiMl.

I

4 _

On Ae 2 1 ft the* riiateh Wks-r«fiinf6dv ^ttd
on the* a8l!h^ the trdopd arrived^ at- Maltewrt,
d liargcf t6i;^n bdloh^g to Ballagc6, 5 1 miltt
d'iftlirtt filom Meei^apenrf :^ heiW th^y hah»d
until th6 xft of Novettibery on which day
they reached Kunleflah, This is a large
fbit ahtf A-6rigc}ti<fel belon^hg to Beftlagee,
atid thtiffe it was fuppoled he had defdfited
ail his trtifures which hd had; bi^dughl ftpm
Sagur; The fort i& fitiwtted on a hill^ thfc
Walh afrd bbilt of he^n ftotie, without any
cemtiitf the citadel oti the higheft part of
tht hill comrtiaiids <he whole; the rampdrte
of this artt very ftVdngj billlt of ftooor and
laid in inottar. This is the firft town of
note in the province of Malav%(, the botindd*
ries of which begin Ibme miles on the eaftern

* , - ■

OW ftife 4th of November the detachfticAt
atrlVed at Kourney, diftant from Kimleflah

twenty- fcven

O ? B^O MB AY- i6y

f^ehty-feven; miles; ^t tftnt village ends the
tttritxyry ptopeAy belongbg to BaUagtt, and
^ fmdl Miiet beghis,\ called the BUfah
Country/ betenging to Smdia, but holden
for him by a Patan chief!:

Hitheito Ballagee feenfiied to have kept to
thie terms of his laft agreement ; but it wafe
iti hope of lulling Colonel Goddard into a
ffdgree of fecUfity, which he flattered hinafelf
lie might take advantage ; for on the kH day*s
inarch; whett the army was nearly out of hb
confines, he fuddenly ap^peired in their .r^
with a body cSf 56OD Cavaltyj' and riiade an
attack on the baggage, but without the leaft
cffeSt ; a ftwng rear guards with the good
order and difpbfitjoh of the troops, prepared
againft all forptile, left him noticing but the
dilgrace of tnfe attempt^ and of a repulfe
with the lofj of {oit^ nien. This condufil
was equally peHldious and unmerited^ as the
ftriiftefl: care had been taken to prevent the
troops in their pai£tge from doiiig any da*
mage to his country, which difcipline wa«
prddu£|^ve of this good cffeSt^ that none of
the vintages in the line of march ;wert. :for-

^en by the ilihabitiBjts^ . • .'

The

»68 A N A C C O U N T

llic chief of the Bilfah diftrrft haviBg
agreed to the pafiage of the detachment
through his country, they marched on the
9th^ and arrived at Burfeah, near which bis
territory ends, on the 15th.

c . During this laft march, which was the
length of fiicty miles^ Ballagee^s troops,
whofc numbers were increafed to near
1 0000, every day appeared, and ceafed not
harraffing our rear. At night they retired to
fuch a diftaiice as made a furprife impradica-
ble. They failed in every, attempt, nor
were they able eVcn to retard the march,

Pn the 17th the ariyiy marched from
Burfeah, and entered Bopaul ToUaw, the
territory of the Nabob Hy at Mahomet Cawn,
a Patan, This CQuntry exhibited the good
effe<3;s of peace, and a wife government; the
villages are numerous, and inhabited by peo-
: pie who feem to live in eafe and plenty ; they
aoe well clothed, and their houses in good
• condition.

i \

•:. Jflam Gurr, or Iflamabad,: which is eigh-
teen miles from Burfeah, 13 ; th? .firft town of
Yiote : it is large and populous, and hath a

fort

OF BOMB AY- 4^9

fort built of ftone. The nabob is rich, hav>
ing a jaghire, which produces nine lacks a
year, and befides rents from the Mahratta
government, which amount to fourteen lacks
more.

On the 20th the army reached the capital
of this province which bears its name. It is
iituated on the fide of a hill, and defcends to
a lake whole extent is ten miles ; the walls
of the town are nine miles in circumference;
the inhabitants are of a fairer complexion
than is ufual in India ; their houfes are built
of ftone and moftly good ; every thing Ipeaks
happinefs and gentle adminiftration. Provi-
fions are abundant ; they were much cheaper
than they had been found in any part of
the march. The force of this chief amounts
to 7000 men ; he hath a confiderable artil-
lery, and a great number of firelocks. The
fort is commanded by a hill to the eaftward,
which is a hard rock ; the upper part of the
fort is alio on a rock, without a ditch ; the
rampart of hewn ftone laid in mortar.

It was found neceffary to halt there a ffevr
days to colled provifions, and make other ne*
c^flary preparations for the marcl^ to Hufl^

nahbad

jzTo AN V^tC.C O U NT

nabbad Gaut, pn the b^uks of the Nerbi^dclab^
The coiiduft of the nabob was in every re*
fpeft perfedly agreeable to his friendly decla-
rations : Ballagee, in revenge for a behaviour

" fo contrary to his views, had entered his do-
minions and plundered ibme of his villages;
but further outrages were flopped by a Ipirited

, meflage ^rpm the nabob, aeclaring if he did
not give^ over the purfuit and Inftantly (juit

, the . country, ^ he would march agaihft bini

, y»;ith al( his force.

On the 27th, the detachment refumed its
.marflh : .the firft two days proved tolerably

good, and the country fertile apd varied ; byt
^ tbe^ third and fourth, on which they reachal
ilhq.Nerbuddah, presented a vsu'iety of difficpl-
, ^ies, from the number of ngir;i:ow'pafles and
^ brpken roads, which lyere fuch as nothing
^ but ihceflant labour could have conquered.

ol'he : whole diftance W9S forty-fix nailes-
, Colonpl Goddard gives Jthe higheft praife to
, (he fpirited e^^ertipns of his men during this

whole march, ^nd the chearfulnefs wifh

which th^ went through their uncomznoQ

Q F JBrOiMf^B AY. 271

^On tl^ 3pth fth^ .TsapM Uu^Qabbi^d
Gayt; ^lje'Nerbu(Jd?h ^trthis place is net
broader ^th^n the JviEqina at :Cwlpee ; the
• banks n^t fbrhigh,; tJie^ftre^ip^is-S^Q^^^-^^^^d
' tle?ir ; a igndy f bjottorp, JAterin)xed jjvith
,rOfks; tlie hills. ar^.v«ry.hig|i on.the north
5 fide, ?ai)d within a ipile^.^d^abalfof the ri-
ver. Op I the Ibuth t^iey appear a|bp\|t fix
jigiiles <feftant; the girouijd , bet weep, <jn both
ftdes a :thiqk janiderjyoQfl ; ,the ;riy^r ifnns
E. and N, E. T^e (Jiftance ,fropi Rajah
. Gur to tjbe .; banks pf ti;ie,.Nerbjiid^h^t JH[uff-
liabb^ is two jl^uA^r^d .^M^id eigjijty-eight;
..||gL]|es. F<Hafte€;n iml^s to the ifpiithvyacd
iffi the Ji[^rb^d4ah is fj^e.pijovwce. pf l?Pf ar.

Wetib.a]l .^OTv return to, the operations pf
the Supreme CQ^Qc^• Frop the previous

. .knQwle(^e which the gover;ior gcQerM })f^d

of Cqloij^I Goddard*s abilitjies and^^iroretiony

md aS( it ;apppar^d fufxxk his letters :that :l]i9

^^Quld be in a (b^rt time ;n 3erar, Jie on Jt|ie

: ^$th/pf J^oyeri>b?r 17^8, propped in CQjjn-

/cil that the j)erf9n in .wb^fe pj^f^leiCon ^$-
njaingdjhe lepers of .Mr. Ellipt, which Ije

:had pa^*fei to be fepjed ;t\p ,<wx .tlje b^njflg

::of bis Jtefsy^dwuld,d?Uvcr.t^
GQd^rdy,grid,.$bat he: ^loji^d -be .^ireftcd Jo

carry

'fcarry into execution the inftru6lions given td
Mr. Elliot, and negotiate and concludisf a
treaty with the Rajah of Berar; as if they had
been origitlally given to him; This, after
fbme oppbfition, was refolvedj and ktters In
confeqiiertce wefe written, and at the lame
time the Inftruftions comrtiunicated to the
coUncil df Bombay. Mr. Farquhar who
gave the account of Mr; Elliot's death did
not long furvive his friend J the care of the
papers devolved on Mr. Anderfbn, who by
Moodagee's defire was gone to him at Nag-
poor ; during his journey a levere illnefs hid
feized this prince, he had been fome days de-
lirious, and his life fb far defpaired of, thiit
he had, according to the cuftom of the Gen-
tods, been taken froni his cott and flretched
on the ground, there to expire : when Mr.
Andeffon arrived, a favorable crifis had I'e-
lieved him, but fuch was the weaknefs which
his difbrder left, that his health return^
very flowly : whrlft he was recovering, he
anfwered the letters he had rieceived from
Colonel Goddard, announcing the death of
Colonel Leflie, and the preparations making
for a ipeedy march to Berar ; a copy of his
letter, dated the 2 3d of November, which
was delivered to Mr. Aaderlbn, that he

might

J

OF BOMBAY. 273

inight fend it to the governor general, was on
the aiftof December read in confultation.
It began with informing Colonel Goddard
that Lalloo Jaddoo Roy, who had been lent
to the Nerbuddah to receive Colonel Leilie,
and after waiting five months in vain expec-*
tation of his arrival, had been obliged by fick*
nefs to return to Nagpoor, fhould now ad-
vance two or three days journey to meet him
and inform him of the fituation of the armies
of the Decan, and all other matters* That
the death of Mr* Elliot had fufpended all
negotiations and fchemes until the arrival of
letters from Calcutta, or of a perfon of confi-
dence to fupply his place ; that as the greateft
friendfhip fubfifted between him and the go-
vernor general, he could have no bbjedion to
the army's croffing the Nerbuddah and enter-
ing his dominions, where every accommoda-
tion Ihould be provided ; that the warmth of
friendfhip not allowing diffimulation or re-
ferve, it was incumbent on him to commu-
nicate what he had learned, and his fenti*
meats on every matter; that the delay of
five months which Colonel Leflie had em-
ployed in fettling the affairs of the Boondel-
chund country was impolitic and prejudicial
to the^defign of the expedition ; that it fur-

S nifhed

'^

474 A N A C C O U N T

nifhed Ballagee an occafion of accufing hlnx
at Poonah, of creating difturbances, and
meditating the reduftion of that province,
thence to proceed in a hoftile manner
againft the Paiftiwah ; whereby the chiefs
alarmed raifed troops, and Ballagee received
orders from Poonah, and Sindia and Hdl-
car had likewife affembled armies ; that
the Nizam being in ftri<3: league with the
Pailhwah, had ftationed troops in different
prifl'es and gauts. That he had defigned on
the arrival of Mr, Elliot to hav^e with him
formed a plan to enfure a free and unmo-
lefted paflage to Bombay ,; one part whereof
was, that both Mr. Elliot and he fhould, iii
letters to Poonah, afliire that government
that the detachment was not intended to be
hoftile to them, or to meddle in reinftating
Ragobah ; that it was meant folely to protect
the Englifh fettlements againft the French,
between whom and Britain war was declared:
he then mentioned the fubftance of the go-
vernor generals letters to him fince the death
of Mrb Elliot, " whereby he was requefted
** to inform him of fuch points as he wilhed
** for the purpofe of eftablifhing a firm union
♦* and folid friendfhip between them, on the
*' ground of reciprocal and equal benefit ;

** that

OF BOMBAY; 475

" that the prefenttime furniflied an opportu-
** nity for this, that the detachment would
** foon enter his dominions, that it was ad*-
viiable to ftrengthen it with a body of his
forces ; he waited impatiently to be made
acquainted with his opinion, on which to
** form his ultimate refolutions.** On this
letter he remarked, that to form fuch a plan>
and eflablifh fuch an union, required time,
and a long communication by letters ; that
the immediate jundlion of a body of his
troops could produce no ^ood effedt, but
might excite jealoufies in the Paifhwah and
the Nizam, and expofe his dominions to ra*- \

vage; he therefore (hould wait for a reply
from Calcutta with the opinion of the gover*-
nor general, and he defired the Colonel to ad-
vife him of whatever plan he (hould adopt
for an unreferved communication between
them, " as fuch between friends is highly
** commendable and approved by God.**

In a poftfcript he mentions the danger
there may be from the troops of Sindia and
their defultory manner of fighting, and re*
commends remaining on the banks of th^
Nerbuddah till he fliould receive letters fron^
Calcutta, and to write to the Paiflxwah, d^-^

S 2 .daring

27^ A N A C C O U N T

cliriug peaceabk itttentions, and that he Will
not m any manner affift Ragobah. This, ai
vV^li as the letter, breaths the ftrongeft frkn^
iiiip for the governor general. The words
are remarkable, '' I am induced by fiiettdfliif)
** to give you this intelligence, for my heart
<< is piiined at the appreheniion of your et-
*' periencing any misfortune, and to return
*' would leflfen the terror of your arms, and
** give difpieafure to Mr. Haftings.

Upon this letter, two queftions arofes
I ft, Whether it did not appear that Mobdggee
/ was di^finclined to join Colonel Goddard, w

co-operate in any enterprize againft the PoO-
iiah government. 2ds Whether it did ndt ap-
pear to be the opiniofi of Moodagee that Go
lonel Goddard, proceeding on his march,
would expofe the detachment to the greaceft
difficulties and dangers.

But thefe queftions were looked, on as pre-
mature : for the letters^written by Moodfigee,
upon his hearing of Mr* Elliot's death an!
received on the iztk of November, contai«i
the moft preffing inftances that the intendti
negociation Ihould proceed, and might be
committed to. the charge of Mr. Farqifhar^;

on

OF BOMBAY. a;;

iDin the 1 6th it had been f^folved tp charg?
Cojionel Groddard with th\Is negpciation, and
on the 2 3d, notice was gjve^ of it to Moodag^e j
now from that prince*s writing the letter re-
feiyed on t\\c i zth of November upon his
firft notice of Mr, £JUiot's death, to his no-
tice of <J!]!alonel Goddard's being fubftituted
to him, (duruig which interval aJfq happenecj
his ficknefs) he muft have bpeii jn utter un-
certainty; it was therefore proper to await
the letters he fhould feud after his having
learned that change. In confequence, the
queftipiis repeived a negative.

That no precaution tending to enfure the
fuccefs of the detachment (hould be omitted,
as from the delay before Colonel Leflie's.
death there might have been fome dimi-
nution of their numbers ; two battalions
of fepoys under the command of Major
Carnac, an experienced officer, who had a ^a^i^c
thorpfUgh knowledge of that country, were
fent to the weftern frontier, there to
wait the dife<3^ions of Colonel Goddard,
cither for a jundion with his detachment,
for the protedlion of Nagpoor, or for pre- .
ferving the communication with !^engal, as

S3 fhould

1

2jZ AN ACCOUNT

ihould be hy hir» judged moft conducive
to the end of the expedition. Thiey fet out
the 4th of January 1779*

In the mean time Colonel Goddard was
proceeding ; on the i ft of December, the firft
and fourth battalion of fepoys croffed the Ner-
buddah in boats. On the next day, the
paffage of the whole army was effedlcd, a
place having been f6und where the river was
fordable. As it was probable thp troops
might remain fome time in their encamp-
ment, great care was taken to chyfe an
healthy lituation,

Immediately after croffing the Nerbuddah,
Colonel Goddard was met by the confidential
perfpn whom the Rajah of Berar had pro-
mifed to fend to him ; his converlation,
though declarative of the moft friendly difpo-
fition, turned iingly on the means of recon-
ciling the Poonah Durbar to the march of
the detachment: as no mention was made of
any further views, fome other mode of coni-
municatjon was neceffary ; the diftance from
the camp to Nagpore being two hundred miles,
was too great for the Colonel to go in peribn,
pnlels he w^ere affiired that the ii^itentions of

the

O F B O M B A Y. , 279

the Rajah were perfedly favorable, in the feveral
points on which he was empowered to treat ;
he therefore, that no time fliould be loft, fent
Lieutenant Weatherftone, fully inftrufted in
every point relative to thofe matters : he an-
fwered the truft repofed in him, acquitting
himfelf of his commiffion with great ability.
He found that a fpirit of caution and circum-
Ipeftion directed the councils of Moodagee,
and that he wifhed all further proceedings
Ihould be fulpended until a full fettlement
between him and the Supreme Council was
completed ; that the difputes in which the
Poonah Durbar was involved with Bombay,
and the part taken by thefe in favour of Ra-
gobah, was an obftacle to the commencement
of any adive operations : at the fame time
there was no doubt but his inclinations to
the Englifli were really friendly, and that po-
litical motives, as well from his future views
as from the vicinity and fituation of his do-
minions, in regard to the Englifh pofleffions,
muft determine him to keep that line. Thefe
confiderations convinced Colonel Goddard
that there was not any profpe£t of an imme-
diate conclufion of fuch an alliance as was
.laimed at in the inftruftions given to Mr.

S 4 Elliot;

aSo AN ACCOUNT

Elliot ; he therefore (Jetcrrtiined his caurl?
of adion by the events of the times.

He had, agreeably to the orders of the Su^
jpreme Council, regularly fent information to
Bombay of the progrefs of his march, but ha4
not for fome time paft received any letters froii^
them, yet from Moodagee and other quarters
intelligence came to him of their intention?
to reinftate Ragobah, and of their prepara-
tions for efFefting that undertaking : certaia
of thefe fails, he maturely confidered tji^
fubftance and fpirit of the inftru6tions from
the Supreme Council as well to him as the^
late Mr. Elliot, whence he concluded that
marching to Poonah was what was fitteft to
be done on the circumftances in which he
flood ; he at that moment received letter^ ,
from the prefidency of Bombay, confirming
all thefe advices^ and particularly informing
him of their treaty with Ragobah, and that
their grmy had taken the field and begun
their march to Poonah, towards which place
they required him to proceed w^ith all expe-
dition ; this confirmed not only the prppriety
but the negeifity of the meafurej vvhat^
ever might be the refult of the refolye$ of
the Supreme Council^ the arrival of this

fprpp

OF BOMBAY, aSi

^Qjcce near Poon^h rpuft b^ for the intereft of
the fervice, either to profecute the war,
which he looked on as aftually begun by a<^s
of hoftility he had authentic intelligence of*,
or bring it to an honourable conclufion, and
at the fame time he Ihould be r^ady to a<3:
in concert with Moodagee in any plan deter-
mined between him and the Supreme Council.
He therefore formed the refolution of march-
ing dire£tly ; when this was imparted to
Moodagee, he repeatedly expreffed his wifti
that the Colonel (hould remain in his domi-
nions till orders were received from Calcutta,
but nothing could induce him to change a
meafure which he was convinced was eflen-
tial. He foon fatisfied Moodagee that a further
delay would prove prejudicial. The whole
condu£t of this prince befpoke perfed confi-
dence and friendly intentions. TheJCcIonel
finding a difficulty in negotiating his bills on
Calcutta, he advanced money upon them,
without receiving any thing on the fcore of
difcount, and in every other refped affifted
him, promifing to furnifli provifions as- they
advanged, for which purpofe, a principal per-
fon belonging to him fhould renaain upon
the confines of his country, and forward the
iupplies of grain. All was now in readinefs,

and

\

\

\

iH AN ACCOUNT

and on the i6th of January i779> the
troops left their camp on the banks of tKe
Nerbuddah.

In their march on the 21ft, they paffed
through a confiderable town called Hurdah,-
belonging to the Paifliwa, and here they got
into the great road leading to Brampore and
Poonah, the way which Colonel Upton had
gone when fent upon his embafly to that
Durbar.

The next day the army reached Charwah,
and halted on account of the extreme illnefs
of Lieutenant Colonel Fortman, the field en-
gineer, who died the day after, univerfally
regretted* The diftance from the camp oa
the banks of the Nerbuddah to Charwah is
eighty miles, a country remarkably rich and
fertile, and producing a large quantity of
wheat. During this march, Colonel God-
dard had received intelligence that the army
from Bombay was encamped at Boragaut
fifty miles from Poonah, waiting there for
florcs, and that a confiderable force had taken
the field to oppofe them, and was flationed
between them and that place ; and on the
a 4th he received advices diredly from the

gentlemen

it

ii

I
I

OF BOMBAY. 285

gentlemen whom the feleft committee of
Bombay had appointed to conduft Ragobah
to Poonah, and fettle the affairs of that go-
vernment, giving notice of that appoint-
ment ; this letter was dated the 1 1 th of Ja-
nuary, and figned by Mr. Carnac ; it men-
tioned, that '* within two days the face of
** their affairs was fo changed with refpeft
** to the primary caule, which led to direft-
ing his march towards Zineer, a fort be-
longing to Morabah, that they muft
give him advice, if he was joined by a
" body of Moodagee*s forces, fufficient to
" enable him to advance, notwithftanding
attacks of cavalry which would hover
round him from all quarters to feize his
^ baggage and provifions, and if he had
^* provifions fufficient to laft him until he
reached Broach or Surat, to proceed to fuch
of thofe places as he could mofl fpeedily
** arrive at ; but if he could not proceed in
** the face of fuch an enemy, without immi-
*^ nent hazard of diflrefs, then to remain
** on the borders of Berar, or where he
*^ could beft fecure provifions till further
'^ diredions from the fejcift committee of
^^ Bpmbay.'^

This

z^4 AN ACCOUNT

This letter left him in doubt whethev the
writers had a profpeft of accomplifhing their
undertakiBg without his affiftancq, or had
given itovc:r as imprafticable; thefeayexprefled
of the Mahratta horfe led him to conclude the
latter, and the beginning of their letter the
fornaer. This ftate of uncertainty was inr
creafed, by his receiving on the next cfey a
letter from the felefl committee at Bombay,
dated the 1 2th, wherein they haftejied his
march in the road firft pointed out. It was
plain the fele<3: committee were ignorant of
the circumftance alluded to in the letter of
the 1 ith. In this perplexity he determined
to proceed to Brampoor, where more particu-*
lar knowledge of the fituation of affairs
ihould determine the manner of his farthef
progrefa.

In confequence, the army continued Its
march from Charwah on the 25 th of January ;
they proceeded without interruption, and on
the 30th reached the banks of the Tapti
river, oppofite Brampoor, a diftance of few^n*
ty-thr©e miles. Colonel Goddatd did not
find the regular information he expected, but
met flying reports of the defeat of the Bom-
bay army.

Oil

J

•'

«

O F B O M B A Y. 2S5

On the zd of February tiie foilowrng ht^
ter, figned by Mr. Carnac and Colonel Eger-
Ion, dated the 19th of January, froiiaa Cam'-
poly, was delivered to him :

" Sir», We have addreffed ' ycju on th^
♦* 1 6'th a letter containing otdfets Which up-
*^ on recoUedtion wfe do not think ourfelve*

au^rized to give jjrou, yo^ are ther^oi'«
** to. pay i!io regard M^hatever thereufttoi

** We are, Sjc/'

Not having received t?he tetter of the 1 6th,
3md tile reports he had met foreboding its
cprttents^ joined to the ifeotUnefs df this|
thr^W him into great perplexity ; he thoiiPght
at firft of halting, to procure further and
more certain intelMgenGe, but not having re*
ceived it on the 5^h', after ^mfaturely confider-
ing his critdeal fitDation, being in the heart of
the Mhhratta empire, furrounded by enemies^
whrofe fuccefe might leave th^tn at liberty to
afl: t^th their whole force againft his d^t^ch-
mtt^ty the feafon approaching in which it
Would be hazardous to keep the field in aB
itosaical country, he determined to march
towards Surat with all poffible expedition.
He was confirmed in this by letters from '

Moodagee,

286 A N A C C O U N T

Moodagee, the contents whereof led him to
conclude that the Bombay government had
received fbnle confiderable checque^ the bad
confequences of which might be prevented by
the prefence of the detachment, efpecially
(hould an attack meditated by the French, be
carried into execution. The doubt whether
the late misfortune might not operate a change
in the favourable diipofitions of Moodagee,
Was another circumflance impelling him to
proceed forward, rather than run the hazard
of fuch a change in returning through Berar;
too much time would have been coixfumed in
waiting to learn his determination^ and by
that the opportunity of fervice be loft. The
propriety of this refolution was evinced by a
letter afterward received from Moodagee,
wherein he leemed greatly apprehenfive of
the confequences of this blow, and advifed
that the detachment fhould not proceed.
In the correlpondence between Colonel God-
dard and the Supreme Council, the reafons
which determined him to this meafure appear
at large, and do no lefs honour to his judg-
ment and penetration, than the celerity of his
march does credit to his abilities as an officer,
and to the uncommon exertion and fpirit of

the troops under his command.

The

OF BOMBAY. 287

The city of Brampore is equal in fize to
Patna, and is the capital of the rich province
of Candifli, under the dominion, of the Poo-
nah miniftty ; it is furrounded by a ftone
wall in bad repair. The troops during their
iiay in this city were treated by the inhabi-
tants with the greateft kindnefs and hofpita-
lity, and plentifully fupplied with provifions,
which were regularly paid for ; the grapes
were remarkably fine, and came from a place
called Afliere Gurr, diftant about fourteen
miles N. N. E. of Brampore. Mr. Dow in
his third volume calls it Hafler, or Hazire.
It is deferibed as an impregnable fortrefs, fitu-
ated on the top of a very high hill, appearing
fomewhat like the Table Land at the Cape of
Good Hope ; the for^ on the fummit feems
not lefs than an Englifh mile in diameter ;
it is of a triangular form, the walls of ftone,
laid in mortar, with round towers, and cava-
liers at proper diftances. Within the fort
there is faid to be a large lake, and a canal
from it which runs the length of the fort ;
it is alfo reported that this ground produceth
grain enough for the fubfiftence of the gar-
rifbn, which confifts of about 1500 men.
In confequence of the ftrength of this fitua-
tion, the Killadar fupports his independence, ^

and

288 AN ACCOUNT

•

and bids defiance to all his neighbours; the
country all around is compofed of hills of
conckar, and fuch broken irregular ground,
that there is no accefs to the place, but
through a deep hollow way, fo narrow that
a loaded bullock can fcarce pafs. The moun-
tain itfelf is of a rocky Hone and conckar,
and the height fuch as to be {ccn diftinftty
at twenty-five miles diftance.

The army marched on the 6 th, and on
the 9 th a Vaqucel belonging to the Paifliwah
Madharow Narrain, delivered the letter figned
by Meffrs.Carnacand Egerton, dated the 1 6th
of January, from the camp at Tullingaum,
and written in confequence of the late unfor-
tunate convention, direfting his return to
Bengal, accompanied by one from the Paifli^
wahjcorrefpondingwiththofe direftions. The
letter of the 19th releafed him from every
obligation to attend to thefe. From this
circumftance, and the further intelligence re-
ceived at the fame time. Colonel Goddard bad
the fuUeft proof of the expediency and pro-
priety of the refolutipn he had taken ; he
therefore anfwered the Durbar, that in obe-
dience to the orders of the Supreine Council
he was marching to proted Bombay, that his

intentions

^

/

OF BOMBAY. t^

iiitcntioiis were friendly to the Mahratta ftate,
and he fhould continue to preferve the fame re-
gard to the friendihip between the Supreme
Council and the Poonah admlnift ration, pro-
tedtirig the fubjefts of the Paifhwa from vio-
lence, and avoiding all hoftility, \iniefs com-
pelled to it by their oppofition . That he was
now advanced to the neighbourhood of Bom-^
bay, which according to the orderis of the Su-
preme Council he muft reach , after which he
xnuft be guided by its directions. He was then
arrived on the banks of the gut Nuddy, near
eighty miles from Brampoor, which he had
marched in four days: the road was good,
the country fine and fertile^ full of villages
and inhabitants: the diftance between the
laft mentioned place to Surat, about two
hundred miles^ which he made no doubt of
reaching before the end of the month ; nor
was he niiftakenv the march was continued
with fuch unremitting celebrity and fpirit,
that the army arrived at Surat on the 25th
of February, having marched, from the 6th,
near three hundred miles, including two or
three days halt.

This march Was performed with the more
cafe from the good effefts produced by the

T lao-

ipfe AN ACCOUNT

moderation and ftrift difcipline with 'whidi
this detachment w^ conBufted, which ipro-
cured them, nc?t only ^cqiiiefoence, but eveiy
affiftance which the ifiihdbitjttitfi of die naany
villages thfey paiTcd thrdugh dduld give them.
None of thefe forfdok their houfes, but v6*
liintatily ctfFered th^if prdvifiorts -and ^ra'in.
An enumferation of fhefe villa^swobld yield
heither fafisfaftion or ufe^ul informaticm, and
their natnes are all detaili^ in H pvtfxAl lat^
publifhed* The counery ig ifertUe, populous,
and well cultivat^d^ th^ inhabitants ibem ifi-
dliftr^IoUs, happy, and bum«ie» Theirgotjd re-
ception 6{ the army Was the more ufeful at
this titae as the rctpidity of the ttiafch wafi>fudh,
that many bf the' caf ts, Upoti Which the grain
which had beeii provided at Brampdor was to
be carried, Were unable to k«ep up -with the
army, ahd had not th^ cmmtry fb^plied pto-
vifidns, the progrefs iiiuft ha\^e been Tetanted
from the neceffity of adapting the motion cf
the army to that of thisf part of the baggages

The firft notice received at Bengal of the
unfortunate ifl'ue of the entesrprixe of the
Bombay council was from Fort St. George.
The prefident fent copies of 'letters which the
Nabob Mahomet' A ty Cawn had received
'* ^ from

J

<y^ BO MB AY. 291

ir^ctfn Pootiah. Froiii thefe arid feveral dth^r
Jyapcrs received the fame day; tiie vvhdle ap-
peared in the wbrft light i for, iii fortie of
ifherriy it is Was added; that Ragobah had ac-
tually joined the Mahratta army with fiire or
fix thouftnd horfe; and was united with theni
to fight againft the Englifli.

In iihis ddubt arid uncertainty the firft care
cf the Supreme Council, dfter a mature de-
liberation, was to provide agaiiift all accidents
tliat rftight Happen frotti aiiy fiidden irrup-
tion into their territory dr that of 0\Vde :
Oetieral Stibbert, then at the head of" the
army in Bengd, was far that purpofe or-
dered to foitii tWd camps of the trdops under
his command, and hold them in readinefs to
tnarch at! thb firft ndtice ; at the fame time
fhi^ governor general advifed the Nabob of
Owde that thele extraordinary camps were
hot formed td aft againft any of the powers in
the neighbourhood of his dominions; A fub-
i^quent order Was fent the general to march
ihe firft brigade toward the banlcs of the
Jumna, there to encamp in fuch a fituatiofl
as was mdft cojivenient for defending the
i3oab againft an invafiori.

% Thii

%

292 AN ACCOUNT

This was dl that could be done until
more authentic accounts came frotii Bombay.
No very flidden irruption was yet to be
feared from the Mahrattas, and though the
defeat of the Bombay army might encourage
the neighbouring powers to form alliances
with the Poonah Durbar againft the Englilb,
they could not be brought into action before
the Supreme Council (hould have received
fuch accounts as would have enabled them
to take certain and proper arrangements, they
therefore fufpended their proceedings on that
fubjeft. The council of Madras apprifed them
of their purfuing the fiege of Mahe, the fuc-
cefs whereof could not be doubted ; this was
a falutary meafure, not only as it totally re-
moved the French from Indoftan, but pre-'
vented the efFeft of difagreeable impreffions,
which the late defeat might have made, efpe*
cialiy if diffidence or timidity appeared to
follow it.

Much about the fame time they received
letters from Colonel Goddard, by which be
informed them of the ieveral particulars juft
now related, and the diredling of his march
towards Poonah in confequence : one part ot
his letters was comfortable. They all con*
talncd repetitions of. his firm belief of the

friendly

I

J

OF BOMBAY. 293

friendly fentiments of the Rajah of Berar to^
wards the government of Bengal, and of his
performing his promifes of affiftance in every
point but that of taking an aftive part with
the Englifh arms. As the Colonel had re-
ceived no particulars, he could be explicit
in nothing but his declaration of proceeding
at firft to Poonah aod afterwards to Surat.

At laft, on the i8th March 1779, letters
came from the feleft committee of Bombay,
dated the 3d of February, containing a fum-
mary account of the whole proceedings,
wherein they faid, as they could not admit
an agreement niade in fuch circumftances,
and after fo explicit a declaration of the com-
naittee's want of power to be of any validity,
they fhould endeavour to treat with the Mah-
fattas upon another footing.

The Supreme Council had fpme debate
concerning what Ihould be written both to
the fele6l committee and Colonel Goddard ;
at length it was refolved to approve his
marching to Surat with all expedition,
and as by the refolution of the Bombay
council againft the convention, or com-
plying with its terms, it was probable

T 3 they

2^14 A N A G G O U NT

they might be epgaged in hoftUItje^ witl^
the Mahrattas, but all was yet dark, he
was to afl: accprdiqg to his difcretion in
purfuance to fheir forqaer orders, with this
explanation, that as th^ defign of his march
was to prpte<St Bombay, that muft be his
objedl; but was to proceed, fo a§ not to
involve himfelf or the Supreme Council
in the refponfibitity of their afits, remembring
that he afbed under the fole authority of the
Supreme Council^ and of courfe was to ex-
crcife his own judgment both in the accept-
ance and execution of any fervice which they
^ould require him to perform*

The board now, on the ift of April, or-
dcred Major Camqc to return to Corumbah
iji Chu|ta Nagpore : he had advanced into
Berar, where he met with a friendly recep-
tion, Colonel Goddard having proceeded (o
far on his way to Surat, it became unnecef-
jfary for Major Camac's detachment to pro-;
ceed further.

An incident now happened, which though
it hath not ^ nc^eilary connexion with the
fjfi<5):s her^ related, yet from the fortunes and
high rank of tfie adlor, defcrve a place in

' Ill

J - •

v.*

OF BtO M B A^y. 295

In ihe beginning of February the grandfbtx
of th^ f^naous Nizam-al-Mullock, Ghazi-ul*
Diea, who, ip Dpw's hiftory, appears to have
put two emperors to death , Ahmed Shaw, and
Allum Geer Sani^ the former the fon of thq
unfortunate IV^Iahummed, who had the morti-*
ficatlon of receiving Jaws in his capital fron^
Thomas KquII j^han the Perfian emperor, an^
the lattej the great grandfon of Aurungzebe,
and father of the prgfent Mogul, came to Su-
rat. His neferious ad^ions are related in that
hiftory to, the year 1 7 6 1 , when every thing
was in confufion, apd Dehli in the hand^ of
Abd^lla and his Durannies, was a fcene of
blood, devaftation, and horror. Dow fums
up hi^ chara<9:er in thefe words : *' Thu?
<^ ended the public tranfa£tions of Ghazi-uj-
^* Dien, .who crovvded into a few years of
** early youth more crimes and abilities than
•* other confun^mate villains have donp in 9
" long, life of wigkednefs and ^eachery.
*^ Though he did not poflefs the Decan,
*^ the fruit of his grandfather's uncommon
*^ crimes, he may truly may be faid to have
been the genuine heir of the parts and
treafon of that nt^onfter of iniquity and vil-
lainy." Ttiis iijan, after wandring in dif*
guife through many countries, was brought

T 4 to

<6

296 AN ACCOUNT

tQ the neighbourhood of Surat, where he
dwelt in one of the Borah's mofques, in or**
der, as it was given out, to proceed to
Hodge : he was in the habit and perfonate4
the charafter of a Faquier : the Nabob of
Surat fent and fecured his perfbn. He ac-
knowledged himfelf to be the identical Ghazi
de Khan * ; he had with him a wife and
two children, one fixteen years, and the
other nine years old, and about eight or ten
attendants ; the Nabob fent him to one of
his own gardens, called Mahomet a Bang,
within the town walls. After his flight
from Dehli in the year 1 7 6 1 , he had retired
among the Jautes ; and wandring from one
place to another to feek fecurity, he liad
come to Eugene the capital of Sindia's domi-
nions. Here, under the habit of a Borah Fa-
quier, he refided a confiderable time, and
was by the Grand Mullah fent to Surat,
thence to go to Hodge, whej^e he was dif-
covered by fome of thofe who had ferved un-
der him at Delhi. Obnoxious to the Mogul
for the murder of his father, and feared as a
dangerous rival by the Subah qf the Decaa :
Great fums had been offered for the poflef-
i5on of his perfon : the Nabob was uneafy,
!' left

* The addition of de Khan, or nlrDicn is iadifFerently
given to him.

OF BOMBAY. 197

left when his refidence at Surat (hould bq

publicly known, his perfon Ihould be de-t

manded by each of thefe princes: at the

fame time it was thought by him and the

Bombay council, that the poffeffion of a per-?

fon fo connefted with the greateft f5s^milie$,

and Omrahs in India, might be of fervice tq

the Supreme Council. The Bombay feleft

committee gave notice of this in their letter

of the 3i I ft of February, and of their deter-^

mination to remove him to Bombay, which

was his defign ; and they alked the orders of

the Supreme Council concerning him. The

^infwer to this expreffed a wi(h that he had

not been apprehended, advifed that all ap*

pearance of violence (hould be avoided, and

therefore recommended to them inftantly to

grant him his liberty, peremptorily inlifting

that he qujt the Englifh territories, and to for^

ward him on his way to Mecca if an opportu-?

pity ihould offer. He foon after iet out for

that place^ with his family and train.

Pn the 5th of April 1779 the num-
ber of the board of ?he Supreme Council
being complete by the acceffion of Sir Eyre
Coote, they took into confideration meafures
proper to be purfued in the circumftance^
^hich the late tranfadions had plaped the

affairs

ig$ AN A ceo U N T

itffairs of the Company in. iThey appeared ta
be, that conceflioiis were made by perfbns
having no authority to n>ake them ; one of
thefe was the furrender of the Company's
pofEeffions" dependent on Bombay, and tha
ether the return of the detach mtent; that the
Bombay council were determined not to per-
form the firft ; the arrival at Surat bad put
an end to the fecond : that it was likelv, as
the perfon of Ragobah was now in the poC-
feffion of the Mahratta chiefs, they would
not infift on the rigorous^ performance of the
conditions, fo that a peace mrlght be efta^
blifhed ; but if they (hould infift on them
aftual war muft then exiift, ^nd Colonel
Goddard muft haye been called in for th^
defence of thofe fettlements : that in cafe the
Mahrattas had taken no inftant meafures fo?
inforcing the performance of thefe co^iditions,
it might be fuppofed they had exaSed^ thena
either to have j^ fpeclovia. fubje^ for prefent
negotiation, br a pretext for renewing the
war when they ihould l>e in a condition to
profecute it with furer effeft j and with this,
intent might have invited the French to
avail themfelves, together with them of the
prefent advantage by bringing an armament
from Mauritius, \vhcre th?y had forcp

more.

OF BOMBAY. apjj

fnore than fufficient for fuch a defign, the
only chance left them of regaining their iur
^uence in India ; that fhould this have been
done (as fuch a meffage, if difpatched in Ja*
nuary would have arrived there in March) ;
if it founcl every thing in readinefs the force
fent from thence might arrive at the deftined
fpot by the month of September.

On the other hand, probably the divifions
of the Mahratta ftate were only fulpended by
the late danger, which united thofe parties
in one common caufe ; the prefence of Ra-
gobah among them was likely to revive their
diflentions; Sindia, whoever afted on a fe-
parate intereft, might apply the fandlion of
his name to encreafe and confirm his own
power. As to the Rajah of Berar, his con-
dudt fince the knowledge of that event fliewed
he confidered the defeat as natural, and a
proof that Englifti arms could not withftand
the fuperiority of numbers, and the rapid
movements of the Mahratta cavalry ; that his
npprehenfion pf their power vyas the ipring
pf his advice to Colonel Goddard not to pro^
ceed, and the Influence of that impreffion
jbad probably made him give up the thought
of the alliance he pnce courted. It was not

therefore

306 AN ACCOUNT

therefore adviieable for the Supreme Council
to renew any overtures toward it, but if ever
circumftances, either through fear of the
Mahratta power, or of any other danger im-
pending on the province of Berar, (hould
prompt him to folicit the fupport of the
Englifh, it would be proper to grant it : the
lofs fuftained was of credit and reputation
only, therefore every ftep tending to betray
a coufcioufuefs of weaknefs or want of refo-
lution, was carefully* to be avoided: at all
events, whilft they fought peace they ought
to be prepared for war*

On thefe xonfiderations it was refolved,
I. To inveft Colonel Goddard with full
power, as minifter of the Supreme Council,
to treat with the Mahratta ftate for the re-
newal or confirmation of the treaty of Po-
rounder, provided they receded from their
pretenfions under the convention of Wor-
gaum, and engaged never to admit French
tbrces into their dominions, or permit theni
to have any eftablifhment on the Mahratta
coaft ; and thefe conditions were to be the
alternative of peace or war. That letters in
co;:)iequence, and conformable to what fliould
be fo written to Colonel Goddard, (hould be

feut

OF BOMB AY; 3&t

fent to the Paiihwa and his minlfters, and
alio to the Rajah of Berar : that othei? letters
ihould be written to the prefidency of Bon>
bay, advifing them of Colonel Goddard*s in-
ftrudtions, deiiring them to be prepared, but
to undertake nothing ofFcnfively without po-
litive orders from the Supreme Council : and
to the prefidency of Fort Su George to in-'
form them of this defign ; and in the event
of their fuccefs againft Mahe, to order their
troops then employed in that expedition to
remain there or at Tillichery, and be pre-
pared to move on the receipt of any orders
for a junction with the Englifh forces on
that fide of India. Thefe difpofitions were
preparations to any plan which it might be
zieceflary to concert with other prefidencies
in the event of a war with the Mahrattas
fingly, or joined with the French, or any at-
tempt of thefe laft fingly upon Bombay.

The firft care of Colonel Goddard, upon
his arrival near Surat, was to choofe a conve-
nient and healthy fpot of ground whereon to
encamp ; fuch a one he found upon the
banks of the river Tapti, two miles above the
cfty* Almoft upon his arrival he received
letters from the feled committee at Bombay,

requefting

502 A N A C C O U N t

ircquefting his prefence there; In order
he might lofe ho time in layitig before the
Suprerbe Council the ftate of affairs at tb*
lettlement, he fet oiit for that iflaaitJ as fooA
as he had regulated every thing rclatiing to
the bills to be drawn on Bengal for his fub*
fiflence. In this he found difficulties ; the
merchants, taking advantage of his wints;
raifed the exchange to a monftrous height, td
which he was obliged for Ibrhe tirrte to flib- '
init. The council of Bengal, on their fcnow^
ledge of this, thought it neceflary to fend
Ipecie from thence, which was attended with
a misfortune^ five kdks of roupies lent by
' the Stafford were loft by the wteck bf that
fliip.

Owing to the length of the paffage Cold-^
nel Goddard did not arrive at Bombay till
the 1 5th of March. The firft thing he did
was to rriake them a rieport of his force, and
as they informed him that through* the mif-
carriage of a pacquet from Bengal they had
not received a copy of the iriftru^ions which
had been given to Mr. Elliot, that they
might have a thorough knowledgfe o£ thd
whole bufinefs, and thereby be prevented
from adopting meafurcs counteraiSing the

vi«wi

OF BOMBAY. 303

vieWs of the Supreme Council, he wrote to
them amply, inclofing a copy^of the inftruq^
tlons, and giving a detail of every matter
concerning the views iti regard to Moodagee,
and l]is difpofition toward the Englifh.

Whilft he was at Bombay he received his
credentials from the Supreme Council's ap-
pointing him minifter at Poonah. The fe^
hSk committee determined to fufpend all ope-
rations until they fhould receive an anfwer
from Ber^al to their reprefentation of the
ftate of their affairs, with which they had
ferit Mr. Hdrfley a member of that Council ;
and as the fituation of the affairs at Poonah
were very different from what they app^red
to be to the Supreme Council, when they
fent the firfl: iilftruclions to him, which was
on the 5tbof February, they having reafbn ^t
that time to fuppofe Ragobah had fucceeded.
Colonel Goddard deferred making known to
that Durbar that he had received them, un-
til b^ Ihould be further inftrufted on that
head« This delay could be productive of no
real inconvenience, as the period incerveti-
ing between the arrival of an aiifwer and
the ftafon for a<3don would ; give fuflScient .

time

J64 AN Account

time to follow and complete any mealbrtS
that anfwer (hould direft : and he prepared
to join his army at Surat, that he might be
in readinefs for iny fervice neceffary.

During all this time great difientions had
prevailed at Poonah j nothing had been done
in confequence of their advantage at Wot-
gaum and TuUingaum, more than what hath
been mentioned; the Vaqueels of Nanah
and Sindia demanded the execution of what
was ftipulated in the convention, and the lame
anfwers were returned ; the want of power
in thofe who figned it, the notice the Mah-
ratta chiefs had of that, and of the inability
of the Bombay committee to aft without the
order of the Supreme Council. The arrival
of the detachment at Surat had this imme*
diate good efFe£t, that a damp was thrown
thereby upon whatever defigns the Durbar
might have formed of recovering by arms
what they inlifted 'was ceded, and ought t?o
be delivered to them. It had alfb a very
material good confequence in regard to the
invafion defigned by the French. They had
got a very confiderable force at Mauritius,
5&e)6 European foldiers, with proportionable
ilores and artillery, and were collecting (hips

CO

|6 tranfport them, and join either Hyder df
ihe Poonah miniury ; whert they heard of
the arrival of thcf detachment at Surat; they
ftopped the embarkation* Thus every thing
tended to operi a new fcene of adioh, with
a fair appearance of retrieving pafl: errors and
iBisfortunesi

*

As the fituatioh arid the different interefts
bf the princes of Indoftan muft have had a
great influence on the procecdhigs of the Su-
preme Council, and their o;^rs to Colonel
Goddard from the time he was appointed ihe
ininrftef of that council in thoie parts of In-*
dia, it will be ufeful and perhaps not uncft-*
tertaining to take a view of them;

"fhe firfl in dignity id the Mogul ; he
ought to be To in importance^ bti» the misfor*
tubes %vhiGh have attended his whole life,
have, reduced that prihce to Qi low an ebb^
that after being at different periods fonletimcs
oppreffed and at others fupported by parties
of barbarians who wafted his dominions and
abfolut^iy ruined his capital^ (infomuch that
the oncp fiiperb Dehli is little better thaix
heaps of rubbifli) his principal fuWlftcnce
arifes from the fcvenue of a part of the

U country

Scy6 AN ACCOUNT

country of Owde, which had been ceded to
him on the fettlement with Sujah Dowlah in
the year 1764. Notwithftanding his fituation
in life was fuch as required a continual exer-
tion and an unremitting perfbnal attention
to his affairs, he had abandoned himfelf to
pleafure and indolence, and was totally
\inder the influence of others. His charafter
is very fully drawn by Mr* Dow in his
fecond volume, and the feries of his adven-
tures fince that time (hews it to be juft and
true. After many various fcenes between
him, and the perfons who furrounded him,
NudjuffCawn one of his Omrahs,hath by his
fuccefles fixed himfelf in the ftate of principal
minifter, with the powers of a Vizir, thougI\
the Nabob of Owde bears the title. His ri-
vals in the Emperor's favour had not only
failed in their fchemes to difpoflefs him,
but had been a£lually delivered into his
hands, whereby he remained Ible and un-
controuled minifter, difpofingat his pleafure of
every thing relating to the throne of the Mo-
guls; he had under his command a confider-
able army, for whole maintenance the
many jaghireshe had grants of did not fuffice,
fo that with numbers of men he wanted
treafure. Two predatory fmall !Mahratta

Chiefs

O F B O M B A Y. 3(37

Chiefs had tried to enter Into negotiation with
hittij to obtain an eftabliihment in his fervice;
but he had no treaty or intercourfe with the
Mahratta ftate.; on the contrary, the advan*
tages which he and other chiefs in the Mo-
gul's fervice had taken of the difirefles of the
minifters at Poonah, to feize fome of" the
Mahratta forts and territory, muft have made
jbim fufpicious of their ill will, and there-
fore difinclined to their caule ; befides it wa^
his intereft that the diflentions fhould con-
tinue,' confequently no a£i: in their favour
was to be dreaded from him or the chiefs
who had poflelfions in thofe parts of Indof-
tan, The princes whoife friendfliip was moft
important, or enmity dangerous, from their
fituation, as well as inclination or power,
were Hyder Ally and the Nizam*

Hyder Ally, though not in declared en-
mity with the Englilh, was far from having
favourable difpofitions towards them ; he had,
from the time his requifition for affiftance
againft the Mahratta invafibn had been
refufed, harboured a ftrong refentment,
and now had entered into negotiations with
the French, and in feveral inftances (hewn
a ftrong inclination to their alliance* The

y 2 ' year

3o8 A N A C C O U N T -

year befor this, when General Belcombe wetit
to Mahe, he ordered his vaiial the prince of
Chericka, to give him pofleffion of a fort
which commanded the entrance of the river
Myhic ; he had fent fupplies and even mo-
ney to Mahe before the Englilh attacked it ;
he had given the governor of that place per-
miffion to hoift his colours for his protedlion ;
and he was preparing to lend a fleet with
provifions and fupplies to the French ifland's,
where there had been for fome time an air-
mament of five or fix thousand men, in-
tended to fail for the Malabar coaft ; yet he
was in an adual ftate of war with Poonah,
in which he had had fuccefs, having twice
overthrown the Mahratta army, and taken
fome forts and territory. His intereft was
that their diffentions (hould continue, but it
was no lefs foto prevent the increafe of
power of the Nabob Mahomet Ally whom
he knew to be his foe, and of the Englifh
whofe greatnefs deprefled him, and prevented
his increafe of conqueft : he is by much the
moft formidable prince in India, having a
great number of well-difqiplined troop*, and
a proportionable well- ferved train of artillery;
he entertains many European officers, and of
late has had a great acceffion to that force by

the

O F B O M B A Y. 309

the number of French who have found means v
to get to htm from- the French fcttlements
. reduced, and other countries fallen into Eng*
lifll pofle/fion, particularly the Gontour Cir-
car, where Bazalet Jung had five hundred
French foldiers. The difturbances in the
Mahratta empire Icflening his fears from
that quarter, increaled his attention to thefe
permanent objects of his jealoufy, and his
army was ready to take advantage of any oc-
cafi'ou which may offer itfelf to employ
' it in.

The Nizam purfued his accuftomed fyftem '
of policy, which is to take advantage of the
troubles in the countries bordering on his
dominions : he had already profited by thofe
in the Mahratra jftate ; the minifters at

' ^ Poonah had, to their great lofs, purchased

the fmall affiftance he had at different tinjes ^

afforded them, by ceffiohs of towns and terri-
tory, and payment of great fums of money;

\ he- was at this time particularly 'inclined to
them, not only from the emolument which
might arife fromeipoufing them, but by being

' very much diipleafed with the government of
]\f adras : they had luffered the annual rent fti-^

U 3 pulate4

310 AN ACCOUNT

p.ukted to be paid him for the poflfeflion of the
Circars to run in arrear ; and had fent Mr,
Holland to his court .to apologize for this, tQ
promifemore pun£luality in future payments,
and to folicit his fan£tion to a treaty carry-
ing on with his brother Bazalet Jiing, who
held the Contour Circar during his life,
after which it was to be the .Company's
abfolute property for a ceffion of it* He
ha/d already begun to a<3^ with fuccefs,
when he received from them inftruftions of
very different tendency, whereby he was
ordered to infift on a releafe of thofe arrears,
and a ceffion of this revenue in futpre : they
had befides, without waiting for the Nizam's
anfwer concerning Bazalet Jung, conclude^
their treaty with him, whereby for a coufi-
deration agreed on with them he yielded the
actual pofleflion of the Contour Circar to
them, and they had fent troops to take that
poffeflion. The council of Madras added
a^i odious ftep to this, the Circar was, let by
tl^em to the Nabob Mahomet Ally Cawjn.
The Nizam already dlfpleafed at this
treaty, which though not openly injurious to
him, ^s it regarded only Bazalet Jung and
the Epgliih, yet as it increafed their (lability

and

OF BOMBAY. 3^1

and power, was a diminution of his, was
exaiperated at this ftrange requifitioii, and
complained bitterly to the Supreme Council
of the behaviour of the prefidency of Madras
in this unjuft and ill-timed demand ; by the
fame letters he inveighed againft the .prefi-
dency of Bombay for affifting Ragobah.
Upon the receipt of thefe complaints at Cal-
cutta, orders were fent to Mr, Holland to
adl folely upon his firft Inftruftionjs, to make
excufes for that extraordinary iftep, and to
Ibothe him in regard to the tranfadion with
Bazalet Jung, and from thenceforth to look
on himfelf as the minifter of the Supreme
Council, and aft by their direftion folely.
As to the affiftance given to Ragobah,
they anfwered his complaint by faying, that
as the minifter at Poonah had made war up-
on the Englifh, thefe were driven by neceflity
to have rfecourfe to every inftrument of de-
fence, but that he might be aflPured it fhould
never be employed to his detriment, and
reminded him that in the event of a war
they were Intitled to his affiftance: he
remained then feemingly quiet at his
capital.

U 4 The

312 AN ACCOUNT

The Nabobs of Surat and Qambay, natur
rally averfe to the Poonah government, by
which they tv:ere opprefled, muft fee that the
dimiBUtion of its power was likely to free
them from that feyere dependence, and
therefore were well inclined to the EngUlhji
^nd winded their fuccefs,

Futty Sing Guicawar, pofieffed of a grea(
part of Guzerat, wifhed to increafe thofc
poflc'flions : originally in league with the
jninifters, he had obtained from them large
grants of land, ^hich Ragobah when in
power had revoked and granted to hia broT
ther Goyind Row ; he had, on the appear-?
ance of profperity to th^ caufe, in the year
^775% offered to yield to them apart of
territory fmce claimed by the Poonah Dur-
bar in virtue of the treaty of Porounder;
nothing had been yet fettled pn that claim,
ke was ready to turn ta whatever fide might
jrove of moil adyantage to him ; the misfor-
tune at Wp.rg^una kept him from uniting
^tth the Engiifh, whilft on the other hand
the increaie of force, by the arrival of the
detachment under Colonel Goddard,' pre-
vented his forming any alliance or entering
into engagements with the minifters.

The

OP BOMBAY. 313

The conleqwnce and power > and the in- '
pUnations and iientlments of Moodagee Boofl^
llajah of Berar, fully appear in what hath
I>e^ii already related ; from the time he be-
i:ame uncoritiroyertihly ppflefled of the Ra-
jahlhip by the death of his brother, he had
ihewn a ftrong defire of alliance ^ with the
Englifli, whom he looked on as interefted in
fhe fupport oC views, which, althongh fufr
pended by the late events in the Weft of In-
dia, future circumftances might furnifli op-
portunities C|f reviving and carrying into exe*
cution. The eftabli(hment of Ragobah in
the Paiihwafliip was an obftacle to them,
and therefore he was averfe to his fuccefs ;
the hatred of his caufe had grown into a
hatred of his perfoh ; on the whole it was higj.
jntereft that there ihould be no end to the
dlfturbances in the Poonah ^vernment; the
iettlement of Ragobah, even in the regency,
much more in th^ Paiihwafhip, was likely
to bring that government into a fettled ftate;
he was therefore aVerfe to every ftep takei^
in his favour. This, \yith a dread of
yivaiion, or irruption into bis territory by
the Nizam, and the army of the Poonah^
miiiifters, inclined him, after the fuccefs of ^
Nanah and Sindia at Worgaum, and before.

Colonel

^ I

^

i

.314 AN ACCOUNT

Colonel Goddard had completed his march
to Surat, to wifh the return of the detach-
ment to bengal : yet ^ he continued his pro-
felfions of friendfhip to the Englifh nation.
Iiiflances have already been related of his
affiftance in procuring money when Colonel
Goddard was diftreffed, and of his hofpitablc
treatment during the ftay of the detachment
in his dominions ; in truth he had a parti-
cular efteem for the Governor General, with
whom he had been long in correfpondence.
Upon the misfortune at Worgaum, he had
fenthis Dew an to Poonah, who affiftedatthe
councils held for the regulation and fettlement
of that government, and he had for this re-
ceived a grant of the diftrift of Gurrah Mun»
dele * as a jaghire for one of his fons, af-
figned for the payment of a body of troops,
his quota towards carrying on the war. But
this had no efFedl, for the minifters formed a
defign to arreft the Dewan, which having
notice of, he difappointed by an abrupt de-
parture, and they had fent orders to the bro-
ther of Ballagee to oppofe the completion of
this grant by preventing Moodagee, who on

his

3* Gurra Maudele in lUyncrs map is on the North of
the Nerbuddah, Lat. 23** 10^ Eaft, Long. 8;°.

OF BOMBAY. 315

his part was raifing troops to take pofleflidu
of it. His averfioii to Ragobah was Ibme-
what diminiflied by this perfidy of the mi-
nifters. In April the governor general had
writteu to him, in anfwer to a meilage h©
had fent by Benaram Pundit, the confiden-
tial perfon, through whom their mutual cor-
refpondence had often before been managed,
which (hewed that he then thought no force
could be pppofed to ^the fuperiority of num-
bers, and rapid movements of the Mahratta
^avalry, influenced by which impreflion he
had apparently given yp ^11 thoughts of the
defigned alliance; the aim of this letter was
to preferve the friendship and good difpofi-
tion of that ftate to the Englifh; It ended
by mentioning that all thoughts of the defign
which had been formed were relinquiihed^
but that a lafting remembrance i(hpuld be had
pfhis kindnefs, and that- every fuitable re-
turn Ihould be made whenever any future oc-
cafion of his affairs (hould demand it. Thus
the Supreme Council, totally difencumbered
from any engagement with bin?, were at
liberty to purfue any plan of adtion which
fhouid feem expedient, and at the fame time
there fubfifted a mutual benevolence which

left

•

. .^,>>,.._»

3x6 AN ACCOUNT

left room for any future negotiation the re-
volutiop of time might furnifli an occafion
for,

That wh-ich was moft in favour of the
Englifh caufe was the total expulfion of the
French from India^ The Supreme Council
of Bengal had ftruck the firft ftroke by pof^
ieffing Chandernagore ; at the fame time
fending orders to Madras to attack Pondi-
cherry. This place furrendered after a
iiege, the particulars of whicfct are foreign
to the prefent purpofe, this was followed
by the capture of Mahe ; they were even
jremoved fyom Surat, the Bprabay Council hav-
ing given orders for th^^ when (hey took the
refolwtion pf effeftually elpoufing Ragobah.
By that removal ftpra the coafts of Coro-
roandel, the prefidencies of Fort ^t. George
and Bengal were empowered to a£t with ie-
curity from that danger, and by fpirited and
vigorous raeafures to repair the rpifchief of
the kte mifcarriage, land keep in awe thofe
powers who might be difpofed to take adr
vantage of that misfortune. The prelidency

of Madras faw this, and properly concluded

tha?

OF BOMBAY. 31^

that proceeding rigcHroufly in the attack of
Mahe would remove the difadvantageous irn^
preffions it might have given rife to, whereas
withdrawing their troops might have been
followed by the lofs of TillLcherry, and per-
haps have induced thofe* powers who were
wavering to declare againft the EngHfli,
and give invitations to the French. Sue-
ccfs proved the wifdom of theie relb*
lutions.

However, the armament at the French
ifiands was to be dreaded, there was no doubt
of their defign upon Bombay, the lofs cf^
the Protee, joined to tlie arrival of the de-
tachment under Colonel Goddard at Surat,
retarded the execution of this defign, atid pro-
bably might- have obliged them to. alter the
deftination of the expedition, as by the pre-
fenf e of fo conliderable a force, that fettk-
ment was perfeftly fecure, but the defign
ftill continued, and it was not to be fuppofed
that it could be given over,efpecially as their
correfpondence at Poonah ftill was carried
on, and they were well, acquainted with Na-
nah's fentiments and Hyder Ally's incli-
zialtions.

Pefides

3iS A N A C G O tJ N T

Befides the powers already mentioned,
there are feveral whofe poffeffions lying
northward partly corapofc^ and partly in-
circle the Mahratta dominions* Some of
them retaining the adminjftration of their
own domain, yet own a dependence on Poa-
nah ; others are independent : the firft though
incapable of a diredt refiftance mnft have the
defire common to all Zemindars of taking
the advantage of troubles in the ftate to
withhold the payment of their rent or tribute ;
this, many of them then did, and whilft
the diftrefles of their mafters prevented their
exertion againft them, would continue to do :
this withholding in the mean time was ex-
tremely prejudicial to the ftate, already
very much drained of public wealth.

But the independent are more dangerous

to the Mahratta empire : many of them have

afierted this independence at critical times,

when diftrefles either by internal commotions

or external enemies have fb embarrafled that

government, that it hath been unable to re-

dwice them to obedience. They know that

when once power is reftored^ either by fettle-

ment of an able man in the Paifhwaihip, or

by the total fubverfion of all claims agiinft

the

OF BOMBAY. 319

the toinifters, their independence mufl: be
annihilated. They fubfift only by the prefeut
diftradtions, and therefore are naturally the
enemies of that government, and friends to
thofe with whom they are at war. The
countries of the moft confiderable of thefe
princes form a chain from the Jumna to
Guzcrat ; thefe are the Rajah of Gohid, of
Jeynagur, of Jowdpoor, of Odeypoor : the
firft whofe country approaches the neareft to
the poffeffions of the Schah, and of the Nabob
of Owde has the reputation of valour and
ability ; he has a great number of forts in his
territory which have flood reiterated attacks ;
notwithftanding the Mahrattas have ma'de
frequent attempts to reduce him to fubjec*
tion, he hath hitherto had the good fortune
to maintain his independence. Formerly
Gowalier was the principal fort, and the ca-
pital of his dominions, but after an unfortu-
nate battle fought with them by his father^
four or five-and-twenty years ago, in which
he loft his life, this fort was gained by
the Mahratta general, and hath ever iince
been in their pofleffion. The prefent Rajah
was then but nine years old ; he feels th^
importance of this fort, and no doubt muft

be

«.. ^ » .

T'

ibe ready to enter into any meafure which
could enable him to regain that pofleflion;

■> < .

The Rajah of Jeynagur is jiet a minorj

and thfe weaknefs of a minority is increafea

by contefts and diflentions amotig his fer-

vants; his territory is Very confiderablei

and may afford an army of 40^060 men *;

r

The Rajah, comniohly called Ranna of
Odeypoor, is by defcent the firfl: in rank of
all the Indoo families; he is very little
known, and whether owing to prudence or
fortune, has been fb happy as to have nc*
concern in the recent occurrences of Indoftan;
The antient domains of his family are now
poffeffed by the Mahrattas. He can bring
into the field only about 15,006 menf;

#

The moft conliderable from power and ex^
tent of territory is the Rajah of Jowdpoor, his
dominion extends from the bordisrsof Jeyna-
gur Eaft to the frontier of Guzerat, his capi-^
tal is Meerta,. a confiderable town ; the
fortrefs and town of Jauloor^ or Shaloorj

*Pow, 2d vol. DccIhic of the Mc^ul empire, p. 86.

t Dow, ibid.

OF B O M BAY; 321

otl th6 river Paddar, belong alio ^o him ; his
territory extends to Aymeer ou the north ^
and Odeypoor on the fouth* Thefe two
laft Rajahs aro nearly conne£led by inter*
marriages*

Though no immediate connexion with
ftny of thefe powers except the Rajah of
Gohid is probable to be formed^ yet, as by
their (ituation in refpedt of the Mahratta,
territory^ and their intereft to have that
empire humbled and difa})led from vindicat-
i(ig the right they claim to the fupreme
dominion over them, they may be uleful to
cauie a diverfion in cafe the war is conti-
nued^ it is not impoflible that fome alliance,
at leaft temporary, may be formed with
them by thofe who ad for the Engliih na*
tion on that fide of India^

The merit of Colonel Goddard appeared
in fo high a light, both in his military and
political line, that the Supreme Council gave
him a brevet of brigadier general, and con*,
firmed the powers they had already vefted in
him . for treating and concluding with the
Mahratta government, leaving him, in cafe '
tl?ey rejected the terms he had inftru£t4ons

X to

322 AN ACCOUNT

to propofe, full latitude of adIotK as he
fhould think moil advifeable : and as Slndia^
by his behaviour whilft the Bombay army
were at Worgaum, had rights founded on
intrinfic benefits, they declared that he fhould
have a full compenfation for any difappoint-
ment he (ho^ild fufFer by the denial of the
nAs of that committee ; that negotiation was
alfo totally left to him ; as to that with
^ Moodagee, if he found it totally at an end,
it was not to be renewed without the orders
of the Supreme Council.

On the 29 th of May, Brigadier General
Goddard announced his commiffion to the
Poonah Durbar by letters he wrote to the
I^aifliwa and Nanah, mentioning that it was
the fincere wifli of the Supreme Council to
conclude a Jafting alliance with that ftate,
and defiring they would fend a confidential
peribn to him, to whom he fhould commu-
nicate particulars. The difJentions at Poo-
nah ran high, Nanah endeavouring to regain
the fuperiority he formerly had, and which
he had flattered himfelf the confinement of
Morabah and Saccaram would have effeftu-
ally fecured to him, and Sindia determined
to preferve his power and keep Nanah in to-

. '' tar

I*

OF BOMBAY. 52^.

tal deperidence ori hitn ; for this he had re^
tained the cuftody of Ragobah*s perfbn,
notwithdandlng Nanah had made hhn great?
ofTeirs to have that poflefflon delivered ro huii,
and treated hiiii wfth the refpedt due to his
rank; having promifed hirh an annual fti-
pend of twelve lacks oF roupees, left hirri 3
train of artillery of twenty pieced of cannon ^
ind a confiderable body of troops ; yet thi^
was but an honourable confinement,' he was
Watched with great care; Senfible that this
pofleffion was a great advantage againft Na-s
nah, and efFeGually to fecure ir, Sindla de-
iigned to keep him out of the reach of Poo-^
nah, and for that purpofe propofed that he
Ihould be Conduced to a place of fafety iri
6ne of his owii provinces north of the ^Jer-^
buddah : this Ragobah agreed to, whether he
really thought it moft for his fecurity or
hoped the journey might furnifh opportu-i
hities tff fortune once more favouring him*
Accordingly he ffet out tov^ards Brampoor
tvith his own attendants, aud his forcej
which eonfifted of ifCiO horfe and foot^
with twenty pieces of cannon ; in this jour-
ney he was efcorted by 4600 horffe, undet
the command of Hurry Bowagee, Sindra's
Dewan. Diflatisfaftion grofe/^he allowance

X a wa8

324 A N A C C U N T

\vas not regularly paid, nor Were the troops
of Ragobah furnifticd with forage and pro*
vifions; he heard, befides that Sindia had
taken off two of his principal Jemiridars,
and detained fome of his people who were
to be fent after him ; this awaked his fulpi-
tion that confinement Was to follow, and
prompted him to contrive a plan for an
elcape ; an opportunity foon offered, a& their
troops crofled the Nerbuddah, his artillery
marching down from the Gaut of Nurwab
to the river, paffed by the Dewan*s tent, Ibme
buftle happened, in which the Dewan's peo-
ple fired, on which Ragobah*s troops attacked
the guard, totally routed them, killing three
hundred, and mortally wounding the com-
mander. * Ragobah immediately proceeded
with what diligence he could towards Surat^
From the neighbourhood of Broach he wrote
to General Goddard, defiring his proteftion.
The General was at firft appreheniive that
receiving him might be an qbftacle to the
negociation with Poonah ; but confidering
• that^fuch a protedtion might be reconciled to
that Durbar upon principles of juftice and
humanity, and that important political ad-^
vantage s might attend the poflbffion of hid
perfbn, he^ granted this afylum an4 p^rfonal

fecurity.

16^

l^

OF BOMBAY. ^325

fecurity, recommending it to him to be
careful in preventing any violence from his
people upon the fubjeds of the Mahratta
ftate. His conduft in this was approved by
the Supreme Council, who direfted him to
continue this proteftion fo long as it ihould
be not forfeited by any aft of infidelity, or
attempt to defeat the efFe^ of his negotiation.

On the 1 2th of June Ragobah arrived in
the EngliOi camp, accompanied by his
adopted Ion Amrut Row, about feventeea

"■years old, and Badge Row, a child of four
ye^s old, born to him fince the adoption.
The Colonel wrote to the Paifliwa and Na-
nah acquainting them with this event, addmg,

. that they might in their negotiation adjuft
whatever was proper concerning him. The
Poonah minifters were enraged at this efcape,
and declared to Sindia they muft coniider
him as refponfiUe for that lofs. ' It had at
firft the efFedl of making them in appearance
more tradable, both Sindia and the minifters
wiftiing to conclude a peace that they might
be at liberty to aft againft Hyder Ally, who
was ftill encroaching on them.

X5 The

326 AN ACCOUNT

The force of the French at the Ifland
was each day more looked on by the Si^-
preme Cpuncil as a rnatter of very great
importance; by advices lately received/they
had region ^o conclude they were intende4
agahift Bombay, and they therefore, in the
beginning of Auguft, ofdered a reinforcemept
to General Gpdd^rd's army, by a detachmeqt
from Madras, and as much as could be fpared
from Mabe, when the wof ks fliould be de-
jDoliflbed ; they adyifed him of this, a«4
their .reafon fqr it, recommencing particu*
larly the defence of Bon^bay^ as l^is firft
pbjed.

The Poonah Durbar had anfwered Gene-
ral Goddard's letter to the Paifhwa, expre(|'-
jng themfelves in terms of high friendihip
towards the Englilti, and promifed to fend a
confidential perion to him ; they hjd even
.exprefl[ed their fatisfa(5):ioii at the manner in
which carQ had been taken that their fubjeSs
in theGuzerat fhould receive no damage from
Ragobah's troops, and recommended the
Paifhvva's colleftors to the continuation of
his proteftjon. - The Vagqeel might have
arrived towards the end of Tulv, but befides
llys flownefs natural /to the political tranfac-

tions

r

OF BOMBAY. 327

tions of that Durbar, by which alone if ac-
quiefced in, the time for aftioa muft have
elapfed, the general had reafon to think that
the perfon to be fent was more to aft the
part of a fpy than of a negotiator ; he had
undoubted intelligence that Nanah was mak-
ing all poflible preparation for war, and ib-
liciting every power in the neighbourhood
to join in it againft the Englifh ; that he
had particularly applied to the Nizam, and
received anfwers on that fubjedt ; that the
French agent at Poonah was alfo very buiy
at this time, and that many difpatches had
been fent to and received from France* The
General therefore looked upon war as more
likely than peace, and precautioned himfelf
againft every event. What hcv forefaw hap^*
pened, the negotiation wa& protradted : he
had intimated to them that a perfonal inter-
view between him and the miiilfters might
" tend to a (peedy fettlement, but this was ix>t
taken up. ^

The Vaqueel did not arrive in "the gene*
raFs camp till the middle of Auguft ; on
the. 1 6th they had a conference ; a perfon was
fent with him, who feemed to have the con*
duftof bufmefs, though the firft perfonate4
* ' ^ X 4 the

328 AN ACCOUNT

ambaflador. They at firft returred to the
ftate of affairs between the nations, before
the circumftances of Ragobah obliged him
to apply to the Bombay Council for affift-
ance, but the General ^ fixed them to the
treaty of Porounder, which was to be the
bafis of any agreement; the others as
ftrongly infifted on the convention of Wor-
gaum, and in confequcnce, the furrehder of
Salfet. The General on his part menti-
oned the want of power in Meffrs* Car-
iiac and Egerton, and the knowledge the
Mahratta chiefs had of it, and told them,
that unlefs the requifitions made by the
Supreme Council, (which were, the aban-
doning all claims under that convention,
and excluding the French) were agreed to as
preliminaries, nothing could -be entered on.
No mention was made on either fide of
any provifion to be made for Ragobah ;
much time was taken up in explications of
die different matters which had occafioqed
the altercations and mutual complaint^ of
the Bombay Council and the Mahratta mi-
nifters againft each other before the Inft
revolutions at Poonah, but in the end
each reverted to his point. Nothing there/
fore could be fettled without a further re*

ferenca

A

O F B O M B A Y^ 30$

ference to Poonah. ^ One of the Mahr^^ta
agents returned there for that purpofe*

Before the departure of the Vaqueel for
Poonah^ General Goddard declared to him^
that the Supreme Council would never coa*
fent to the reftr^nt of the perfbn of Rar
gohzhy that he muft be at liberty to re(ide
-wherever he (hould chuie, with a decent
allowance from the Mahratta flate, and that
on thefe conditions he Ihould not be fu£fered
in any manner to difturb it. The return of
the Vaqueel, which he had promifed ihould
be in twenty days, was continually delayed,
notwithftanding repeated alTurances that he
was immediately to leave Poonah ; the
month of Oftober was thus two- thirds fpent
in vain expedlation ; at lad th6 general told
the remaining Vaqueel that tjhe delay ufed»
and evufive anfwers given hithisrto, evinced
hoftile intentions in the Poonah Durbar ;
that nqtwithftanding thole evident proofs,
the Engliih wiflied to fhew their fmcere
inclination for peace, and to grant every
indulgence confiftent with their honour and
fafety ; that therefore he would wait fifteen
days more, and if at the expiration of that
period the abfent Vaqueel did not return, or

fend

33^ A N A C C O U N T

fend a fatisfadory anfwer to the propofah
tranfmitted by him, he fhould look upon it
as a declaration of war, and a<9: accordingly :
he might the inore boldly do this^ as his
army was in excellent order, conofplete in
military ftores, the artillery thoroughly
repaired, and provided with every requifite
for taking the field and immediately enter-
ing upon fervice ; at the fame time he ha4
reafon to be aflured that Sindia and Nanah
had fet a negotiation on foot with the Ni-
zam, Hyder, and even Mopdagee, to make a
general attack upon the Englifli at their fe-
veral fettlements.' The laft was not likely to
ftir, but the others were hut too well in-
clined to aft again'ft them,

' On the 28th of Odober the Vaqueei re-
turned with fetters from the Paiflhwa and
minifter, referring to him for a full deck-
'ration of their feutiments, which he in plain
temis declared to be, that no peace fhould be
concluded unlefs, in the firft place, Ragobah*s
perfon was delivered up, and Sallet reftored
to the Mahratta government. This broke off
all further negotiation. As the General had
ifotmd Sindia^s inclinations fo ftrong againft

the

r

O F B O M B AY.- 331

|he Englifli, he had not as yet made him
^ny private overture, left it fhould be attri-
J^uted to a confcioilfnefs of inferiority, and be
received with contempt; the courfe of ope-
f atio»s might aSbrd an occafion which would
render it expedient, for as his connexion with
jhe minifter was founded on confiderations of
Intereft and ambition, a door WQuld open for
treating whenever he thought it his political
advantage : this was not likely, whilft his
lituation at Poonah remained as it then was ;
his power, by means of his army, and his
influence over Holcar was fo great, thjit it
yvas impoffible for Nanah to fhake off the
Ihackles iii which he held him ; he had beeii
prevailed on to return to Poonah, where his
prelence was bought by further grants of ter-
ritory or large fums of money : no advan-
tage could b^ offered him adequate to thofe
Jie reaped from that importance; dilatory
and uncertain proceediqgs were therefore his
pbjed:. Such ^ ftate was as pernicious to the
Englilh as it was profitable tohirA : to them
evQry thing concurred to make decifion necef-
^iry. The army under General Gqddard was
xnaintained at a vafi: expence, which the ter-
fltqry ii^ the weft of India was by no means

equal

A

332 AN A C C O UN T

• >

equal to defray ; in truth far othcrwife :
• the exertions made by the Bombay Council
had drained their wealth, and they were con-
tinually requiring fupplies from Bengal:
great as the refource there was, it codld not
fuffice for every demand, and much had been
fept to Madras as well as Bombay : an ac-
tual exifting war gave the Englifli a right to
feize the enemy's territory, and draw the
maintenance of their army from their reve-
nues, of which they were then the protec-
tors. To the expence of the army was ^dded
that occafioned by the afylum given to Ra-
gobah ; the dire(3:ion in feveral letters had
enjoined it, the .Supreme Council approved
it, humanity required it, and policy made it
•^expedient. General Goddard was bound to^
prevent injuries to the inhabitants, not only
by prudence, but his orders, and the promife
he had made to the Poonah Durbar, which
continued in force till war (hould a<Sually
exift. That Ragobah might be enabled to
reftrain his troops by paying them, the ge-
neral had allowed him 50,000 rupees a
month ; this expence was thought too heavy,
and the continuance of it forbidden by the
.'Supreme Council ; thus unprovided heniuft

prey

OF B O M B A Y^ 335

prey at lai^e upon the country, unkfs /put
in pofleflion of Ibme diftrift whole reydnucs
might maintain him, and fuch a pofieifion
might be extended to enable him to difchatge
fome part of the debt he owed the Company*

The rich and fertile province of GuzeraK
was the moft obvious country for fuch a
provifion, as well as for a refource, whence
to draw fubfiflance for the army J it lay opea
and totally incapable of refiftance, no French
force was yet in that part of India, or could
arrive befcMre the conqueft was effeded ; the
approaching monfbon prevented oppofitioti
from the Mahrattas, and would give an in-
vader time to cftablifh himfelf in that poffef-
fion, the greateft part of the country wa»
the property of the Paifhwa family ; hence
the benefit arifing from that pofleflion waa
double, depriving the enemy of as much as
it afforded the pofleflbr ; the Nawal of Cani-
bay and other Rajahs, inveterate enemies of
the Mahratta ftate^ were ready to afllft, if ef*
fcftually prote<Sted ; thus the country would
be eafily fubdued, and from its being inter-
fe<£led by rivera and open to the fea, as eafiiy
defended againfl the incurdons of a predatory

334 A .N ACCOUNT

enemy : by a proper ufe c£ thofe advantagwlf
Futty Sing might be neceflitated to join the
Englifh, and thereby free 'hlmfelf from de-
pendence, and (hare the fpoil of his former
Iprds; from him fuccours of money and
troops, principally horfe, might be ob-
tained.

r Another very important confideration waj
the retrieving the honour of the Englifh arms
loft in the misfortune at Worgaum: this
Was not barely a feather ; from that event
the Indian powers had (hak?n . off the awe
with which the valour and former prowefs
of that nation had imprefled their mind.
This was fo not only at Poonah, where the
Durbar had ufed themfelves to think of the
Englifti with contempt, and conclude that
they were fallen into a ftate of weaknefs
which obliged them to fue for peace, and
yield to give up every thing infifted on* but
the neighbouring princes whom they foli-
citedy influenced in like manner, would pro*
hably be the more eafily ii>duced to accede to
their invitation ; a fortunate blow, the fplen-
dor of a victory muft turn the fcaie ; fear,
that principle prevalent through the eaft,
would infpire a dread of refeutment if th^

Englifli

^O F BOMB AY. 535

Englifh proved fuccefsful, and therefore

take them await the event of the war. The
urbar of Poonah whofe great reliance was
on an attack to be made by the French force
fo often promifed, finding none was at hand,
might refume their fchemes of recovering the
territory their diffentions made them lofe,
and defire a peace with the Englifh that they
might be at liberty to revive their claims
among their neighbours.

Full of thefe confiderations, the general
proceeded to Bombay to concert with the Se-.
led Committee the plan of operations.

Thus ended the year 1 779, in the weft of
India; it had produced ibme great events,
and been loaded with many difappointments ;
the next is big with many more, whether
decifive or no is in the breaft of Provideqcci^

POST.

/

$3^ A N A C C O U ^-^

i

POSTSCRIPT*

SINCE the conclufion of the forcgoiug
flieets, private advices have been iiec^ived
of the foliowifig fafts. The Bombay Coun*
cil approved, though they would not be re#
Iponfible for the meafures General Goddard
propoied, ^nd furniihed him all th^ aiJUlauce
that was confident with their fafety ; they
wrote to Colonel Braithwaite to haften his
comipg with the troops from Mahe, but as
Hyder had ftir red up the princes . hear Telli-
cherry to afts of hoftility > the colonel coyld,
npt immediately (pare his whole force ; he i
ient one company of European infantry, on«i
of artillery, and one battaliion of fepoys, but
they did not arrive fo foori as \fras expe<Jied :
from Bombay were fent four companies of
European infantry, and two battallions o£ !
fepoys, commanded by Colonel Hartley*
Thus reinforced. General Goddard, on the
I ft of January 1780, marched frorn his
camp near Surat, and croffing the Tappy,
took poffeffion of all the territory round Su-
rat and Broach, and proceeded into the

Gqzerat :

10 1? torn HAY.

t^rttomt : part of this country bdohgs to th0
Owicawar family an4 is. at prelfea.t ppfleflQ?d
by Futty Sing, and: the remstinder imcnedi-
acely to the Poonah government or Paifliwa
femily : this was a pr6per foundation for ^
treaty with Futty Sing^ whofe fituatiou ill
rqgord to the governing party at Poonah
hath been already mentioned* Oa the ipthj
the army encamped befor6 the fort of Dub*
boy^ fubje<9: to Poonah ; the garrifon made
at firft a fliew of reliftance, firing fbme fhot
on the approach ; that night a battery was
erected which was intended to begin next
days ibme attempts were made to 'difturb
the work, but' upon its being finifhed^ the
garrifon abandoned the place, in which were
tbuod oniy a few unarmed inhabitants* Th?
i^venties of this diftrift amount to two lacks
of Fupees a year; it was left in charge of a
colle6:or and/ome troops from Broach, and
^e' march was continued towards Broderah,
the refidence of Ftitty Sing, which was hdd
by a ftrong garrifon ; General Goddard pro-
pofed a treaty to him ; Ibme days he remained
in fufpence^ but his deliberation ended m
concluding an alliance; the conditions * of
which were, that the Paifhwa fhouid be
totally excluded from any pofieffioa in Gu-

Y * zerat.

' r—

338 AN ACCOUNT

zerat, and the Englifli and Futty Sing en-
gaged mutually to fupport each other in the
poffeffions they fliould fhare between them.
Futty Sing was to furnifti 3000 horfe to
General Goddard, and to have Ahmedavad in
lieu of his (hare of the Guzerat fbuth of the
Tappy, and he was to be effeftually fup-
ported in withholding his tribute of twcnty-
feven lacks till the conclufion of peace, when
his interefts were to be taken care of. This
fettled, he accompanied the Eiiglifli army
with his horfe to Ahmedavad, the capital of
Guzerat ; this is a large town well fortified.
On the I oth of February they encarpped be-
fore it ; it was defended by a great number
of troops, part of which were 6000 Arabs,
arid 2000 cavalry ; the batteries were ready
the 1 2th at noon, by the 1 4th at night leve-
ral breaches were prafticable, and at day-
break on the 15 th the Europeans and lepoy
grenadiers, led by the gallant Colonel Hart-
ley, took it by ftorm after a vigorous refift-
a«ce from the brave Arabs, great number of
whom fell ; the lofs of the Englifh in killed
and \Vounded amounted but to one hundred
and twenty, but that of the enemy to up-
wards of 1000. The town according to
agreement was given up to Futty Sing, and a

fmall

OF BOMBAY. 339

fmall detachment of his and the Englifh
troops left for the guard of it.

The jealoufies at Poonah had not difcon-
tinued, Nanah had even projefted to feize the
pcrfons of Holcar and Sindia, but without -
cfFe&ii but they were reunited by the com-
mon danger : upon the news of the march of
the Englifli army to Ahmedavad being re-
ceived at Poonah, a confiderable force pro-
ceeded under Sindia and Holcar to prevent
that fiege, or if begun to force them to raife
it, hut they learned the capture before they
had got half way j that flackened their pace,
yet they continued moving towards the
Englilh; when they reached the environs of
Broderah, General Goddard marched to meet
them, they retreated as he advanced ; in
three days he had got fo near as to occupy in
a few hours the-camp they had left in the
morning ; there Sindia and Holcar fent hinx
back the hoftages, writing to him, that though
authorifed by the law of nations to put them
to death, they would not be guilty of fuch
inhumanity ; afking at the fame time whe-
ther he* meant peace or war ? the anfwer
%vas, that the war was only againft Nanah
and the enemies of the Englifli, to which a

Y 2 reply

(

(

1^

340 AN ACCOUNT

reply vr^s given by their Vaqvieel, that Sin*
dia^was an enemy to Nanah and well in*
clined to the Englifh ; thus a kind of nego-
tiation was fe^raingly offered, whilft evidently
their fchenae was to harrafs and diftrefs the
Englifti army by hovering round them, aiid
jwt leaving it in their power to come to an
engagement -to keep them in continual alarm,
and cut off their provifions and forage ; ia
this manner to draw out the campaign till
the rains fhould put an end to it, when
they would retire ^nd go to the culture
pf their farms*

General Goddard faw the confequeoces of

this Pi^ji^feiyfe, and fludi^d to end it by H

decifivfiEoke ; on the 3d of April, about

two irt^^Ve morning, he marched filently from

his canj^^with a chofen detachmetit, cgnfift-

'^Ig^^flbur battalions of fepoy.:,grenadiers,

four ccnnpanife^s of European infantry, four

tvvelve-pounders, and eight fix-pounders, au4

after marching about feven miles, at the dawii

of day entered their camp ; he was fo provi^

dent in every precaution that his inarch was

totally updifcovered, and ri?gularity and order

{o well preferved that unperceived he reached

the ceq.ter pj their camp, after pa/fing through

9 body

OF BOMBAY. 341

a body of fix thoufaiid men ; he then began
his attack ; great was the confufion among
the enemy, yet they got fomc troops toge-
ther with which they endeavoured to oppoie
him, but in vain ; they fled from their camp
into a neighbouring ground, where, without
lofs of time, he charged them ; after a fliort
refiftance that whole army, confifting of up-
wards of 30,000 men, dilperfed totally,
leaving him not only mafter of the field, but
of that whole country. The lofs on the
Englifli fide was very inconfiderable, being
not more than twenty killed and wounded.

F^ I N I S.

#

f

r

>

25v

f

Va^^